On April 19, 2026, Ramsey County deputies took a report of criminal sexual conduct. The act occurred on April 18, 2026, at McCarron’s Lake County Park, Roseville, Ramsey County. V1, a 29-year-old female, reported that she met a male, later identified as Muigwa Okelo Watba, [DOB REDACTED], on a dating app. They communicated for two weeks. They agreed to meet at the park. They kissed once in her car. He wanted to “make out,” but she told him “No,” that they were just getting to know one another. He quickly became “touchy.” He wanted her to sit on his lap and “grind.” She refused, noting that there were children at the park.
He became frustrated with her. After about 40 minutes, she decided it was time to end the date. She walked back to her car, and he walked with her. She went around to the trunk of the car to get her phone charger from the back. He suddenly grabbed her around the neck from behind and began choking her. He said, “You’re being a tease.” He pulled down her pants. He penetrated her vagina with his penis. He also forcefully grabbed her breasts. She was weak from being choked but she was able to elbow him in the ribs.
He stopped. She did not think that he ejaculated. She ran to her car and drove off. She went to Regions Hospital for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination. She reported that there was pain in her neck and throat when speaking. She had a raspy voice. The nurse noted an 11cm by 9 cm area containing multiple circular bruises on her left breast. On the right breast, the nurse noted a 0.75 cm red circular area, a 3mm circular area, and 0.5cm red linear marking on her right breast. In her vaginal area the nurse noted five circular areas of bruising, three of those are 0.5 cm in circumference and are linear to each other.
The nurse also noted a linear red scratch on her upper left thigh. V1 complained of pain in her upper back near the spine, and pain in he vagina. Deputies were able to identify Watba with the phone number provided by V1. Assisting law enforcement agents arrested him on April 20, 2026. In a post-Miranda interview, he admitted to meeting V1 at the park. He said they kissed. He said it was consensual. He denied any other sexual acts, forced or consensual. He denied assaulting her in any way. Pursuant to search warrant, Watba submitted to a suspect SANE examination.
The analysis of swabs taken during the SANE exams are pending.
