A man swung a baseball bat at another man during a confrontation in Duluth, resulting in serious injuries to the victim’s elbow.
Steven Joseph Dickenson Sr., 32, of Duluth, faces a charge of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
The incident occurred on August 8, 2026, at about 2:17 p.m. near a playground area.
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According to the complaint, the victim was sitting at a picnic table when his daughter brought him two tablets, one of which belonged to Dickenson’s daughter. When the tablet dropped to the ground, Dickenson emerged from an alley carrying a blue and silver baseball bat and began yelling at the victim.
Dickenson swung the bat at the victim’s head, but the victim raised his arm to block the blow, resulting in a severe injury to his elbow. The impact was strong enough to bend the bat. Video footage captured the altercation, showing Dickenson approaching the victim and swinging the bat multiple times while the children were present nearby.
Later, on August 28, officers met with Dickenson at the Saint Louis County Jail. In a statement given after being read his rights, Dickenson claimed he confronted the victim because his daughter was upset about the broken tablet. He admitted to hitting the victim once in the elbow with the bat but insisted that he only intended to scare him.
Dickenson was arrested following the incident, and a court date has not yet been set. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison for the second-degree assault charge.
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 misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Saint Louis County is Minnesota’s largest county by area, stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border. The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the Sixth Judicial District; cases are heard at the Saint Louis County Courthouse in Duluth and the Virginia courthouse for cases north of the iron range.
