Cloud Police Department were dispatched to an apartment on 16th Street SE in the city of St. Cloud, Sherburne County, for an assault. The caller said her ex-boyfriend had entered her apartment with a key, knocked her over, stole her phone, and left in a white car, unknown make or model. Upon arrival, the caller, KSS, reported her ex-boyfriend, later identified as MARTELL DIONTA BURSON, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, had entered her apartment with a key she did not know he still had. She told him to leave and he grabbed her phone and went downstairs.
He accused her of cheating. She told him to leave. She got her phone back and went back upstairs. Defendant followed her and she agreed he could grab his things and she would assist. While doing so, he pushed her into the closet, smacked her and punched her. She went downstairs and he followed. KSS reported they were together for four months and he lived with her for 2-3 months. During a formal statement, KSS reiterated the above adding additional detail. When defendant was standing in the closet, he was “talking s***” and KSS started to record him with her phone.
Defendant grabbed the phone, smacked her and punched her on her left cheekbone. KSS said her face felt swollen. Using her daughter’s phone, KSS called 911. Defendant asked her not to call the police but did not interfere with the call. KSS stated she was scared because she did not know what was going to happen. KSS said she and defendant were in a four-month relationship and broke up the day prior. She reported she had a scratch on her left thigh and pain in her right knee from the physical altercation.
In a statement with the 10-year old juvenile on-scene, she reported she heard crashing in the bedroom and saw defendant run down the stairs and fall. She said defendant and KSS chased each other around the kitchen. A review of the defendant’s criminal history record showed that he was convicted of two separate misdemeanor DANCO violations in Stearns County Court File Numbers ••-CR-••-•••• and 73-CR-20- 4723, on December 7, 2021. In a voluntary telephonic statement, defendant said he came home early that morning, went upstairs and told KSS, “Give me all my s***”. KSS told him to get it in the morning.
KSS threw his stuff down the stairs. Nothing was physical. KSS called the police because he would not leave. She told the kids to say that he had hit her. He did not steal her phone. He was on "the north side" at his sister's. A CJDN entry for a PC pickup and hold was entered for defendant. On February 23, 2026, at about 5:11pm, officers were dispatched to a residence on University Ave SE in St. Cloud with information that defendant wanted to turn himself in. Upon arrival, defendant exited the apartment.
Law enforcement observed KSS inside the apartment. The defendant was taken into custody without incident. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
