Lawsuit Claims Eagan Police Ignored Stroke Symptoms, Leading to Death of Minnesota Postal Worker

EAGAN, Minnesota — The family of a 50-year-old postal worker who died after being taken into custody by Eagan police and Dakota County jail staff has filed a $40 million lawsuit, claiming officers ignored clear signs of a stroke and instead treated him as if he were intoxicated.

The federal civil suit, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges that officers and jail employees showed “deliberate indifference” to the medical emergency of Kingsley Bimpong, a Cottage Grove resident who died in November 2023.

Ignored Signs of Medical Emergency

According to court filings, Bimpong left his postal route early on November 16, 2023, complaining of headache and blurred vision. While driving home, he struck a median and was stopped by Eagan police, who said he appeared disoriented and slurred his speech.

Body camera footage cited in the lawsuit reportedly shows Officer Joseph Moseng suggesting that Bimpong might be having a stroke, but Officer Martin Jensen, a certified Drug Recognition Evaluator, dismissed the concern and failed to check his pulse or vitals.

Instead, officers brought Bimpong to the Eagan Police Department to await a blood draw, assuming drug impairment.

“Moseng and Jensen wasted a lot of time hunting for intoxication while a medical emergency stared them in the face,” the complaint states.

Jail Staff Marked ‘Inmate OK’ While He Deteriorated

By 1 a.m., police transferred Bimpong to the Dakota County Jail, where surveillance video later showed him collapsing on the cell floor and struggling for hours. Despite visible distress — including drooling, weakness, and loss of control of his bladder — correctional staff repeatedly logged his condition as “Inmate and Cell OK.”

When medical checks were finally performed over three hours later, staff found Bimpong unresponsive, cold to the touch, and showing signs of severe brain injury. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brain dead the following day.

An autopsy confirmed intracerebral hemorrhage (a severe stroke) as the cause of death, with no drugs or alcohol detected in his system.

Hardel Sherrell Act and Oversight Violations

Minnesota lawmakers, including Rep. Jess Hanson, say the case reflects ongoing failures despite the Hardel Sherrell Act, a 2021 law aimed at improving medical care in jails following a similar in-custody death.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections later found two major violations at the Dakota County Jail — including outdated first aid/CPR certifications and a failure to screen inmates for medical emergencies during intake.

The jail has since retrained staff and revised procedures after the DOC issued a corrective action plan in February 2025.

City and County Response

A statement from Eagan city attorney Vicki Hruby claimed that officers acted appropriately, saying Bimpong “exhibited signs of drug intoxication” and that “no objective medical emergency was apparent at the time.”

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office declined comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Family Seeks Accountability

The Bimpong family’s lawsuit names three Eagan police officers, seven correctional officers, and Dakota County, arguing that all failed to recognize an obvious medical emergency.

Their legal team, from Robins Kaplan LLP, argues that Bimpong’s death represents a systemic breakdown in training and accountability.

“He was clearly dying in front of them — and instead of getting help, they assumed he was intoxicated,” attorney Katie Bennet said.

For ongoing Minnesota public safety updates and accountability news, visit NapervilleLocal.com.