Brooks, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Joseph Cole Wulfson, 33, of Brooks, appeared in Red Lake County District Court on Wednesday, July 17, facing serious charges after a video captured him violently assaulting his 12-year-old stepson. The disturbing July 6th incident, recorded by a surveillance camera outside a rural Brooks home, shows Wulfson allegedly headbutting the boy, hitting him around 25 times, and knocking him down three times.
Wulfson has been charged with felony child torture, gross misdemeanor punishment of a child, and misdemeanor domestic assault. He was arrested on July 12 following a traffic stop east of Brooks. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 14.
According to the complaint, Wulfson claimed he was disciplining the boy for lying, but admitted to Chief Deputy Kelly Brekke that his actions were excessive. The assault was discovered after a man reported the video on July 11. The boy’s mother, alerted by the camera, attempted to intervene by shouting at Wulfson to stop from a remote location.