Man accused of assaulting Essentia nurses has history of nurse assault
Joseph Minowanigogezhig Legarde
(St. Louis County Jail)
DULUTH, Min. – The man accused of assaulting two nurses at Essentia’s St. Mary’s Emergency Department had previously been convicted of assaulting Emergency Department staff.
The recent assault allegedly happened at approximately 3a.m on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Duluth Police tell FOX21 he is accused of assaulting two female nurses.
In November of 2017, Legarde was arrested on charges of Felony Threats of Violence and Misdemeanor Assault in the Fifth Degree.
This happened in the St. Luke’s Emergency Room in Duluth.
The Duluth Police report reads multiple witnesses said Legarde was going to be administered medication “due to aggressive and threatening behavior”. He broke free before the medication could be administered.
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He was accused of then kicking the patient room door open and punching two security guards.
The Duluth Police report continues to say Legarde fixated on one female RN. Legarde called her names then said he was going to get her name from medical records and Google her name to find out where she lived. It continues to say Legarde then threatened to rape her until she dies in front of her husband.
The report says Legarda also threatened to shoot the nurse’s kids, other nurses, and the St. Luke’s security guards.
He plead guilty to misdemeanor 5th degree assault.
In his plea agreement Legarde wrote, “I swung at an struck two victims. I did not do this in self defense. I am waving any mental illness defense.”
With his guilty plea of misdemeanor assault, the County dropped the felony charges.
