Waconia Man Charged With Felony Assault After Allegedly Ramming Vehicle
Carver County Jail Booking Photo
WACONIA MN: A 79-year-old man has been charged with felony second-degree assault after authorities allege he repeatedly rammed another vehicle in a Waconia parking lot and then drove toward a man standing outside the vehicle.
James Leo Fredette is charged in Carver County District Court with one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine, or both.
According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement was dispatched at approximately 5:50 p.m. Sept. 3 to 925 Airport Road in Waconia for a reported assault. Dispatchers advised responding deputies that two vehicles were intentionally crashing into each other and that the people involved had been fighting beforehand.
When deputies arrived, they reportedly found automobile parts scattered throughout the parking lot and two vehicles with significant damage. One was a red 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, which had lost its bumper.
According to the probable cause statement, Fredette told investigators he had arrived at the property with an adult woman to look for a 2002 Acura MDX that had been loaned to her. They believed the woman's husband had taken the Acura.
Fredette allegedly told authorities he had not reported the vehicle stolen because he decided to "take matters into his own hands," according to the complaint.
Fredette told investigators that when he arrived, the other man ran to the Acura and attempted to leave. Fredette allegedly tried to block the Acura, which then backed into the Pacifica. Fredette said this upset him and acknowledged ramming the Acura twice, including once into the driver's-side door, according to the complaint. He reportedly said he may have struck it a third time.
A witness told investigators he saw the Pacifica ram the Acura multiple times before driving quickly around the parking lot and nearly striking the other man after he had exited the Acura.
A second witness reportedly gave a similar account and told investigators it appeared the Pacifica's driver was attempting to run over the man while the woman retrieved two dogs from the Acura.
The alleged victim told investigators he was inside the Acura when Fredette rammed it several times. After getting out, he said he believed Fredette was going to run him over.
According to the complaint, the man estimated the Pacifica came within approximately three to four feet of him, prompting him to jump between the Acura and another vehicle because he feared he would be struck. He told investigators there was enough room for Fredette to drive around him and described the Pacifica as traveling "fast enough to hurt me."
Fredette was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault.
The criminal complaint represents allegations. Fredette is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.