Becker County Man Charged After Baseball Bat Assault Leaves Victim Critically Hurt

Oct 7

A 54-year-old Becker County man is accused of brutally attacking another man with a baseball bat, leaving him with severe head trauma that required emergency surgery.

According to a criminal complaint, Calvin Dean Basswood has been charged with first-degree assault after deputies found a man badly injured at a rural property west of Detroit Lakes on the morning of Oct. 4.

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Responders were called to 21804 County Highway 6 around 11:17 a.m. after reports that a man had “two holes in his head.” Officers arrived and saw the victim covered in bruises with significant trauma to his head and face. The man initially claimed he had been hit on the highway and dropped off at the location, but medical personnel told investigators his injuries were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

At the scene, deputies discovered a large bloodstain behind a utility shed and additional stains on the porch of a trailer. The victim’s girlfriend was connected to the trailer. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators found blood on a couch, wall and ceiling inside, with signs of attempted cleanup. Trash bags containing bloody rags, Swiffer pads, a rolled-up rug and a red cooler were recovered from nearby dumpsters. A small bottle of bleach was also located inside a trash bag.

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During an interview, the victim’s girlfriend told investigators that she had been assaulted by the victim earlier in the morning and then woke up her cousin, Basswood. At first, she was evasive about the victim’s injuries, but she later admitted Basswood had “roughed up” the man and eventually confirmed she saw him strike the victim with a baseball bat. Mason said the bat was discarded in an area near Audubon. She also admitted trying to clean up the blood but said she was unable to.

Basswood was arrested and declined to speak with investigators. The victim was flown to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, where doctors performed emergency surgery for his head injuries. His current condition has not been released as of publication.

Basswood remains in custody and made an initial court appearance Monday. A judge set bail at $300,000 with no conditions, or $100,000 with conditions. If convicted of first-degree assault causing great bodily harm, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $30,000 fine, or both.

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