A man drove his car through multiple campsites at a Washington County park, aiming the vehicle at two campground workers and forcing one to dive behind a tree to avoid being hit, according to court documents.
Michael Brian Fritz, 53, of Minnesota, faces two counts of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle. The charges were filed Wednesday, July 15, in Washington County District Court.
According to the complaint, deputies responded to a disturbance at the Saint Croix Bluffs Region Park campground in Denmark Township at about 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, July 14. The reporting party told dispatch that someone had tried to run him and the victim over with a maroon sedan. When deputies arrived, they spoke with the two campground workers, who said they had been picking up trash when they heard yelling from a nearby campsite.
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The workers told deputies they saw a man, later identified as Fritz, arguing with the victim. Fritz began screaming and swearing at the workers, telling them to stop looking at his campsite. He then got into his car and drove through several campsites, steering directly at one of the workers. The victim’s wife told deputies she screamed at the victim to move because he was about to be run over. She said Fritz aimed the car at the victim and came within feet of hitting him.
Fritz then made a wide turn, drove through more campsites and directly at the second worker. She told deputies she had to run behind a large oak tree to protect herself as the vehicle came within a couple of feet of the tree. Deputies also spoke with a camper who confirmed that Fritz drove his vehicle directly at the two workers, weaving through campsites and around a picnic table before accelerating toward them.
Deputies located Fritz at the park and took him into custody after a brief foot pursuit. During questioning, Fritz admitted he was upset with the workers for looking at his campsite but denied trying to run anyone over, saying, “I didn’t try to run anyone over, I think they thought that.” A deputy noted that at that point in the conversation, no one had mentioned the allegation that he tried to hit anyone with his car.
A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from gross-misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Washington County, on the eastern edge of the Twin Cities metro, is served by the Washington County Attorney’s Office through the Tenth Judicial District. Felony cases are heard at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater.
