Minneapolis Man Charged After Allegedly Driving at Campground Workers, Fleeing Deputies in Washington County
Published: July 17th, 2026.
WASHINGTON COUNTY: A Minneapolis man is facing felony charges after authorities allege he intentionally drove a vehicle toward two campground workers at Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park in Washington County before fleeing from deputies on foot.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court, Michael Brian Fritz, 53, of Minneapolis, has been charged with two counts of Second-Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and one misdemeanor count of Fleeing a Peace Officer by Means Other Than a Motor Vehicle.
The incident allegedly occurred at approximately 1:10 p.m. on July 14, 2026, at the Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park campground in Denmark Township.
According to the complaint, Washington County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched after a campground worker reported that someone had attempted to run him and his wife over with a vehicle. The reporting party told dispatch the suspect was driving a maroon sedan.
Deputies arrived and spoke with the two campground workers, identified in the complaint as J.H.W. and C.E.W. According to the complaint, C.E.W. told deputies she was "better now" but said she had "never been that scared."
The complaint alleges the couple had been picking up trash when they heard yelling coming from a nearby campsite. They reportedly looked toward the disturbance and observed Fritz arguing with his girlfriend. Prosecutors allege Fritz then began yelling and swearing at the campground workers, telling them to stop looking at his campsite.
According to the probable cause statement, Fritz then got into his vehicle and allegedly drove through multiple campsites before driving directly toward J.H.W. The complaint states C.E.W. screamed for her husband to move because she believed he was about to be struck. Prosecutors allege the vehicle came within a few feet of J.H.W.
The complaint further alleges Fritz then made a wide turn, drove through additional campsites, and drove directly toward C.E.W. Prosecutors say she was forced to run behind a large oak tree for protection as the vehicle came within a couple of feet of the tree.
A camper who witnessed the incident reportedly told deputies that Fritz drove through multiple campsites, around a picnic table, and directly toward both campground workers, according to the complaint.
Authorities later located Fritz and took him into custody after what the complaint describes as a brief foot pursuit.
According to the complaint, Fritz told deputies he was upset because the campground workers were looking at his campsite. The complaint states he also told deputies, "I didn't try to run anyone over, I think they thought that." Prosecutors allege a deputy found that statement unusual because deputies had not yet mentioned allegations that anyone had been targeted with the vehicle.
Fritz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.