A staff member at a Fridley residence escaped an attempted sexual assault at knifepoint after Victor Sasha Cantu, 25, demanded sex and threatened her with a knife, according to the complaint.
Cantu faces three felony charges in Anoka County District Court: attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a dangerous weapon, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence.
According to the complaint, officers with the Fridley Police Department responded to a residence on the 500 block of Bennett Drive NE at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after receiving a report of an assault. The victim, a staff member at the location, told officers she had seen Cantu enter the kitchen area before returning to his bedroom as other staff were leaving.
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A short time later, the victim said Cantu came back into the kitchen, pulled a knife from his jacket and demanded that she go to the couch so he could rape her.
The victim managed to run about 10 feet to the bathroom and shut the door. She reported hearing Cantu throw his body against the door, trying to force his way in. While looking out the bathroom window, the victim saw Cantu fleeing from the home.
During the encounter, the complaint says, the victim tried to de-escalate the situation, but Cantu reaffirmed his intention to rape her. Officers later found Cantu near the intersection of Central Avenue NE and Osborne Road NE.
The attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge alleges Cantu tried to sexually assault the victim while armed with a dangerous weapon. The second-degree assault charge stems from his use of the knife to threaten the victim and the threats of violence charge is based on his statements and actions during the incident.
The charges were filed October 28 in Anoka County District Court.
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Jurisdictional Context
Anoka County, north of the Twin Cities, is served by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office through the Tenth Judicial District. The Anoka County Courthouse in Anoka hears felony matters; the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office operates the Anoka County Jail.
