A Jordan man repeatedly rammed another vehicle with his Chrysler Pacifica in a Waconia parking lot and nearly struck a man standing nearby, according to charges.

James Leo Fredette, 79, faces a charge of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the complaint, law enforcement responded at about 5:50 p.m. on September 3 to a report of an assault in a parking lot in Waconia, Carver County. Dispatch advised that two vehicles were intentionally crashing into each other and that the people involved had been fighting beforehand.

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When deputies arrived, they found significant damage to two vehicles, including a red 2006 Chrysler Pacifica with its bumper lying on the ground. Numerous witnesses and apartment building occupants were outside.

Deputies identified Fredette as the driver of the Pacifica. He told officers he had arrived with an adult female, TLJ, to look for a stolen 2002 Acura MDX that had been borrowed to TLJ. Fredette and TLJ believed TLJ’s husband, JEJ, had taken the vehicle. Fredette admitted he did not call police to report the vehicle stolen and instead decided to handle the matter himself. He also stated that JEJ had previously damaged the Pacifica.

Fredette told deputies that when he arrived, JEJ ran to the Acura and got inside. Fredette said he tried to block the Acura from leaving, and JEJ backed into the Pacifica. Fredette said this angered him, so he rammed the Acura twice, including once in the driver’s side door, and possibly a third time.

A male witness told deputies he saw the Pacifica ram the Acura multiple times and said the Pacifica kept driving fast around the lot, nearly hitting JEJ after he exited the Acura. Another witness and reporting party, the victim, gave a similar account and said it appeared the driver of the Pacifica was trying to run over JEJ while TLJ retrieved two dogs from the Acura.

JEJ told officers he was inside the Acura when Fredette rammed it several times. After exiting, JEJ said he was standing in the parking lot and believed Fredette was going to run him over. He estimated the Pacifica’s bumper came within three to four feet of him, and he jumped between the Acura and another vehicle because he was scared. JEJ said there was enough space for Fredette to drive around him and described Fredette as driving “fast enough to hurt me.”

Fredette was arrested at the scene for second-degree assault. The charge alleges he used his vehicle as a dangerous weapon by ramming the Acura and nearly striking the victim.

The charge was filed Friday in Carver County District Court. 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 misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.

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Jurisdictional Context

Carver County, southwest of the Twin Cities metro, is served by the Carver County Attorney’s Office through the First Judicial District. Felony cases are heard at the Carver County Justice Center in Chaska.