Anthony
Super Moderator
St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul, Minn. Ray Widstrand, 26, is in critical condition at Regions Hospital in a coma, fighting for his life.
"He's in the most difficult time right now, as far as swelling and cranial pressure. We're in that critical time," his father, Peter Widstrand, said.
Widstrand was out walking in is new neighborhood Sunday night around 11:30 when he walked up to a crowd of about 50 African American young adults fighting. He stopped to check it out and then started to walk away, however that is when the crowd turned on him.
“The first person who struck him had hit him with a can in a sock,†said one witness in a police report. “The man went down and a ‘whole bunch of little eastside boys’ began to kick the man. She saw them strip him of his pants and go through the pockets.â€
Police found Widstrand lying on the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth, his pants removed and shirt torn, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Ramsey County attorney's office.
A neighbor that lives across from the incident saw Sunday's attack from her window said the fight erupted in the middle of Preble Street just south of Minnehaha Avenue.
"An innocent man was walking down the street and brutally attacked by a group of youth," said Sgt. Paul Paulos, a police spokesman. "He was out for a walk and decided to go through this group and was assaulted and knocked unconscious."
A witness said Widstrand was attacked when he walked into the area. When the victim went down, a "whole bunch of little East Side Boys" began to kick him, the complaint said.
Another witness told reporters that she also saw the whole thing unfold from his window. “These losers stomped on this man’s head and practically beat him to death!â€
Police arrested and have charged Issac Maiden, 19, of St. Paul with first-degree assault, first-degree aggravated robbery and crime committed for the benefit of a gang. The suspect is being held in the Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $150,000. A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.
Police also arrested three juvenile males. They haven’t released the names or any information on the three.
At a press conference his father said his son loved his new neighborhood and he didn’t feel that is was dangerous.
"He loved where he found his apartment. He was excited about it. He was excited to have his own place," his sister, Alice Widstrand, said during a news conference Friday evening at police headquarters.
"I can't imagine why someone would do this to another person. Hopefully they will at least answer to that," Peter Widstrand added.
"It's a tragic thing, and we are hoping and praying for his survival and recovery," said Ted Arbeiter, director of operations at Suburban Community Channels, where Widstrand works as a producer.
"He's in the most difficult time right now, as far as swelling and cranial pressure. We're in that critical time," his father, Peter Widstrand, said.
Widstrand was out walking in is new neighborhood Sunday night around 11:30 when he walked up to a crowd of about 50 African American young adults fighting. He stopped to check it out and then started to walk away, however that is when the crowd turned on him.
“The first person who struck him had hit him with a can in a sock,†said one witness in a police report. “The man went down and a ‘whole bunch of little eastside boys’ began to kick the man. She saw them strip him of his pants and go through the pockets.â€
Police found Widstrand lying on the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth, his pants removed and shirt torn, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Ramsey County attorney's office.
A neighbor that lives across from the incident saw Sunday's attack from her window said the fight erupted in the middle of Preble Street just south of Minnehaha Avenue.
"An innocent man was walking down the street and brutally attacked by a group of youth," said Sgt. Paul Paulos, a police spokesman. "He was out for a walk and decided to go through this group and was assaulted and knocked unconscious."
A witness said Widstrand was attacked when he walked into the area. When the victim went down, a "whole bunch of little East Side Boys" began to kick him, the complaint said.
Another witness told reporters that she also saw the whole thing unfold from his window. “These losers stomped on this man’s head and practically beat him to death!â€
Police arrested and have charged Issac Maiden, 19, of St. Paul with first-degree assault, first-degree aggravated robbery and crime committed for the benefit of a gang. The suspect is being held in the Ramsey County Jail with bail set at $150,000. A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.
Police also arrested three juvenile males. They haven’t released the names or any information on the three.
At a press conference his father said his son loved his new neighborhood and he didn’t feel that is was dangerous.
"He loved where he found his apartment. He was excited about it. He was excited to have his own place," his sister, Alice Widstrand, said during a news conference Friday evening at police headquarters.
"I can't imagine why someone would do this to another person. Hopefully they will at least answer to that," Peter Widstrand added.
"It's a tragic thing, and we are hoping and praying for his survival and recovery," said Ted Arbeiter, director of operations at Suburban Community Channels, where Widstrand works as a producer.