On or about October 10, 2025, at approximately 8:30 AM, Officer Marohnic of the Blaine Police Department responded to a request for law enforcement at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE, City of Blaine, Anoka County, Minnesota. Officers were advised of an assault between two employees, one of which being RICHARD LEROY WASHINGTON, [DOB REDACTED], the Defendant herein. Upon arrival at the scene, the officer made contact with the reporting party, who stated that Defendant had approached the victim [NAME REDACTED], punched him in the back of the neck without provocation, put him in a chokehold.
Surveillance footagelater reviewed by a detective indicates the victim [NAME REDACTED] at his work station with a hammer prior to the assault. Defendant approached from the rear behind the victim's work station and grabbed the victim [NAME REDACTED]. Both Defendant and the victim struggle for control over the hammer during the assault. The victim attempted to maintain custody of the hammer while trying to prevent Defendant from taking it away from him. The hammer was not used by either party against the other.
The victim [NAME REDACTED], at which point other employees were able to restrain Defendant and calm him down. Both parties were sent home by supervisors. The reporting party stated she intended to terminate and trespass Defendant. The officer called the victim, who further confirmed the details of the assault. The victim stated his neck and right knee was sore and he had twisted his ankle while they were struggling. The victim stated he remembered Defendant saying something along the lines of "I'll kill you" during the assault.
Both the victim and the reporting party shared corroborating stories about what caused the attack. The company had previously reached out to Defendant's wife due to concerns about his mental health. After being unable to reach the wife, the victim sent her a message asking her to call the company. The victim's message to the wife was the only communication had with Defendant's wife and that nothing else done on the victim's part that might have provoked the assault.
