On July 23, 2025, at approximately 1:30 P.M., Hopkins Police Officers were dispatched to Ramsgate Apartments located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] in the City of Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on a report of an assault. Upon arrival, Officer Goodwin spoke with R. E. B., the victim herein, who stated that he is employed as a painter for the apartment for approximately two decades and he was walking into the building to go to the paint room. The victim stated that a male, later identified as DEONTA KENTRELL STEWART, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, held the door for him, so the victim [NAME REDACTED], and that nothing more was said between the two.
When the victim returned from the paint room, he was confronted by the defendant who stated, “don’t you ever f****** call me an ape.” The victim [NAME REDACTED] told the defendant he thanked the defendant for holding the door and didn’t call him an ape. The victim [NAME REDACTED] went to his truck that was parked just outside in the handicapped spot. The victim stated the defendant approached the victim’s truck and started kicking it and spitting at it. The victim stated he exited his truck at which point the defendant got into the victim’s face, then punched the victim in the left side of his head.
The victim stated he took the defendant to the ground to subdue the defendant. The victim stated he never threw any punches, just held the defendant in a headlock in an attempt to subdue the defendant who continued to fight. The victim stated, “dude are you done?” and when the defendant stated he was, the victim [NAME REDACTED], but the defendant immediately re-engaged. The victim [NAME REDACTED] had the defendant under control three times to stop the defendant from fighting but when released, the defendant kept coming back.
Officer Blankenburg spoke with the defendant who stated he had held the door open for another resident and that the victim [NAME REDACTED]. When the defendant confronted the victim the two began to argue. The defendant claimed the victim threatened to kill him and that the defendant felt he had to defend himself and the two started fighting. The defendant stated the victim was trying to choke him. The defendant stated the two eventually separated and the victim went back to his truck. Officers spoke with Witness who stated she lives in the building on an upper level and heard yelling coming from outside.
Witness stated she looked out of her balcony and observed the defendant outside the building and it looked like he was going to attack the victim. Witness stated that Victim entered his car and the defendant approached the car and kicked it. Witness stated the two began to fight. Witness stated she had video tape. The video tape shows the defendant and victim on the ground with the victim trying to hold the defendant down. The victim can he heard saying “enough, you f****** attacked me” and releasing the defendant, and the defendant immediately get up and try to punch the victim in the head and grab the victim [NAME REDACTED]. The defendant and victim fall into bushes as the victim tries to control the defendant’s hands as the defendant continued to try grab and punch the victim.
