Warroad Police Officer Charged Following BCA Investigation

Joshua Matthew Demmerly

An officer with the Warroad Police Department has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and stalking following an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Joshua Matthew Demmerly, 29, of Warroad was charged Wednesday, April 3, 2019 in Roseau County District Court. BCA agents arrested Demmerly on Tuesday, and he is currently in the Roseau County Jail.

According to the criminal complaint, on Monday, April 1, 2019, BCA agents interviewed a minor who alleged that Joshua Matthew Demmerly sexually assaulted them more than ten times while he or she was 16 and 17 years old. Demmerly was a police officer during this timeframe and he reportedly told the victim that they were under investigation for a felony and that he was the only thing standing between them and the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office.

When the victim attempted to avoid Demmerly, he reportedly called and texted the victim’s phone and forced them to share their location via the “Find My Friends” app on the victim’s iPhone. According to the complaint, Demmerly provided the victim and other juveniles with alcohol and told them they had to stay the night on more than one occasion. The victim reported waking up naked after a night of drinking at Demmerly’s house and unable to recall what had occurred the night before.

The victim also reported that Demmerly had performed traffic stops on the victim and asked him or her to step out of the vehicle, and he then kissed the juvenile. On one occasion, the defendant activated the emergency lights of his squad car while on duty, turned off the squad camera, and took the victim into custody in front of multiple witnesses. The defendant then allegedly drove the victim away from the witnesses with the juvenile seated in the rear seat of his squad car.

The incidents are reported to have taken place between 2017 and 2019 while the victim was under 18 years of age. The BCA is asking any other possible victims to contact the BCA tip line at 1-877-996-6222.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.