On or about January 20, 2026, Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Police were dispatched to a theft and assault in the silver ramp at the MSP Airport located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Hennepin County, Minnesota. When police arrived, a witness pointed out the suspect, and police detained a male, later identified as ELLIOTT CHARLES HAWKINS [DOB REDACTED], "Defendant" herein. Police also made contact with a male, “Victim” herein. The victim told police that Defendant unprovokedly approached him and aggressively took his cell phone from the front of his pockets.
He said after Defendant took his cellphone, they ran up the escalators, and Victim yelled for help and shouted for people to call the police. Defendant then turned around and gave the phone to another worker who was with the victim, and Defendant then pushed the victim [NAME REDACTED]. The victim said he feared for his life while he was being assaulted. Police observed inflammation and swelling on the victim's kneecap. The victim participated in a show-up and positively identified the defendant as the person who stole his phone and assaulted him.
Witness also reported to police they could hear Defendant make cultural and racist remarks toward the victim [NAME REDACTED]. Police reviewed video footage, which showed Defendant walk up to the victim, [NAME REDACTED] in the chest, and reach into the victim's pocket and grab what is presumed to be the victim's phone. The victim then reached for his phone back and the defendant hit the victim's hand out of the way, deflecting it. Defendant then walked away, and the victim [NAME REDACTED]. Eventually, the victim was pushed to the ground by the defendant, and Defendant attempted to punch the victim [NAME REDACTED]. In a post-Miranda interview, Defendant was asked how he got the victim's phone.
Defendant admitted, "I went in his pockets." Defendant is in custody.
