On April 14, 2026, at approximately 5:57 P.M., Saint Paul Officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Wilson Avenue, Saint Paul, County of Ramsey, on an assault. The 911 caller heard a female yell for police and saw a male hitting a female who was on the ground. Officer Dahir arrived in the area and spoke with the 911 caller, PV. PV said she was in her apartment when she heard someone crying outside. She looked outside and saw a male on top of a female, punching her. PV began recording the incident.
She saw the female running west on Wilson Avenue and yelling, “Call the police.” The male followed her. PV yelled out through the window that she was going to call police. The male said, “Call them and tell them she gave me an STD.” PV showed officers video she recorded. In the video, a female appears to be lying on the ground in the middle of the street and a male is leaning over her and yelling. The male said, “hoe ass b****.” Officers drove around and found CMM in a stairwell in front of [ADDRESS REDACTED]. CMM was emotional, crying, had blood stains on her nose, and could not catch her breath.
CMM was on the phone and told the person she was going to press charges and that he hit her in the face. Medics were called to evaluate CMM. When asked where the suspect was, CMM said he was in apartment 2XX, in the apartment building. (The suspect was later identified in the investigation as RICO LYNN BAPTIST, [DOB REDACTED]). CMM said that BAPTIST told her that people told him she had been doing crack and that she had been unfaithful to him by cheating on him. When asked if she was assaulted, CMM said she was as he hit her.
CMM pointed to the direction of 19XX Wilson. She said a girl saw the incident and said she was going to call police. CMM said she went to [ADDRESS REDACTED] for her medications. BAPTIST believed she had a disease as she was given medication. That was the reason she was assaulted. CMM said that BAPTIST has been arrested before for strangulation against her. Medics arrived and advised it looked like CMM had a broken nose. CMM was transported to United Hospital. Officers went to the apartment to arrest BAPTIST, but he would not open the door.
Sgt. Wanschura spoke to BAPTIST by phone. Officers surrounded the apartment building and ordered BAPTIST out. At some point, BAPTIST exited the apartment and was arrested. Later, Officer Dahir went to United Hospital to speak with CMM. Staff advised CMM discharged herself and left the hospital. Later, CMM called Officer Dahir and said she was never assaulted, and only had a disagreement with BAPTIST. She said she was not injured and medics were lying about her nose. She said she slipped and fell and said her nose is not broken.
BAPTIST declined an interview with an investigator and requested an attorney. BAPTIST has a conviction for Aggravated Battery/Great Bodily Harm, Kankakee County Circuit Court, file 17CF225, Kankakee, Illinois, 10/11/2017. 2 62-CR-26-2563 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 4/15/2026 In Minnesota court file 62-CR-23-5606, BAPTIST was convicted of Domestic Assault Strangulation, conviction 12/5/2023 (different victim). BAPTIST has pending charges of Possession Firearm/Crime of Violence conviction in 62-CR-25-4969 (Review hearing scheduled 05/08/2026-Rule 20 process).
