On January 1, 2026, police were notified regarding an assault that occurred near Crystal Lake in Burnsville, Dakota County, Minnesota. Police responded to a residence belonging to an adult female, identified herein as “Victim.” Victim reported that she had left her home that morning at 7:45 A.M. To go for a walk on a trail that leads through Crystal Lake Park and the boat launch area. Victim was walking by herself when she was approached by a lighter-skinned, black male wearing a black sweatshirt with a gray vest, black pants, gloves, black tennis shoes, and a stocking cap.
Victim also told police that she believed the male had something around his neck but was unsure what that was. The male asked Victim questions about the trails and whether he could walk on the lake. Victim became suspicious of the male due to how many questions he was asking her, and she told him that her husband was in the area. Victim left the male and continued on her walk. About ten minutes later, the same male came up behind her and put his gloved hand over her mouth. The male told Victim that he had a knife and not to scream.
Victim immediately started to resist and tried to fight the male off. The male threw Victim to the ground, and she removed her glove to try and scratch his face and eyes. At one point the male was leaning or kneeling on Victim’s left side. Victim believed the male was going to sexually assault her, because she did not have any other property on her person for him to take. The male asked Victim if her husband was wearing all black, and she told him yes. At that point, the male got up and ran away toward a parking lot.
Victim then yelled for help, and a different male (identified herein as “Witness”) found her and helped her get back to the boat launch. Victim went home and called police. Police spoke to Witness, who stated that he was on a run when he heard a loud male voice and began running toward it. He found Victim on the side of the trail. Victim appeared pale, disheveled, and in shock. Witness attempted to calm Victim down. He did not see anyone else in the area. Victim told Witness that she was tackled to the ground and threatened with a knife.
Victim also told him that the suspect had his hand over her mouth. Officers went to the location in the park where Victim had described the attack occurring. Officers located snow that appeared to have been disturbed to the side of the trail, consistent with two people in a struggle. Officers also located a piece of black drawstring in the snow that appeared to have been disturbed. 3 19HA-CR-26-24 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/7/2026 Officers checked surveillance recordings at nearby apartment buildings and located a suspect generally matching the description provided by Victim.
The suspect was eventually identified as DASHAWN JAWAUN NEWTON ([DOB redacted]). NEWTON was on video at the nearby apartment complex driving a Mercedes SUV, pulling into the underground garage at approximately 7:14 A.M. On January 1, 2026. NEWTON then went into the apartment complex before leaving in the SUV again at 7:37 A.M. NEWTON was seen wearing a dark sweatshirt with a black vest, sweatshirt hood over his head, and what appeared to be a black ski mask that did not cover his face but went over his head and around his neck.
