Tristen Cody Mikael Springwater

On 03/24/2026 at about 0102 hours, St. Paul Police responded to an unsheltered encampment at Warner Rd/Fish Hatchery Rd in St. Paul, Ramsey County for a 911 hangup. The caller asked for medics and then hung up. While enroute, the call was updated that a person was hit by a tree and a description of the suspect was provided. Upon arrival, police saw Tristen Cody-Mikael SPRINGWATER (DOB/1995-03-17) with a tree branch walking out of the parking lot. As he was being taken into custody he repeatedly said "it was self-defense". Police found the victim, AJT, about 100 yards away on the ground rolling around and trying to stand up.

AJT had a bloody face and swelling around his eyes. AJT was not cooperative and was transported to Region's hospital. SPRINGWATER was Mirandized and interviewed. SPRINGWATER said he was in his tent with other people and there was argument over SSI money. One of the other people then hit him in the head and another used a glass bubble pipe to assault him in the left eye. SPRINGWATER and AJT then got into a physical fight. SPRINGWATER grabbed a branch that was holding up his tent and struck AJT in the face with it.

SPRINGWATER had slight swelling to his left check/eye from where he said he was struck with the bubble pipe. SPRINGWATER was speaking erratically and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. A witness, LMW, said she was in a nearby tent and heard arguing about a broken bubble pipe and a female voice screaming for someone to “stop” multiple times. She then saw SPRINGWATER walking away with a stick and AJT on the ground. LMW said SPRINGWATRER was yelling something to the effect of, "Yea I hit him.

He broke a bubble and threw it in my eye." Police later learned that AJT had suffered a brain injury with internal bleeding and would need facial reconstruction. For purposes of Rule 6.