The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 4, 2013

Inked assault suspect arrested after second incident

Wanted man identified during argument 24 hours after assault

By Dan Nienaber Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — In this case, it was the ink that sent him to the clink.

Police officers are reporting it was a distinctive tattoo and a second early-morning altercation that helped them identify and arrest a man who allegedly assaulted a woman downtown early Saturday morning.

Tyson Raymond Hennis, 27, of Madelia was arrested early Sunday morning, almost 24 hours after the first assault was reported, when officers responded to an altercation outside a pickup truck parked dowtown.

The first report was made at 2:34 a.m. Saturday. A 21-year-old woman reported she was with group of people that was followed to a parking lot in the 100 block of East Cherry Street by another group of people as they were leaving a downtown business.

A man, later identified as Hennis, allegedly took his shirt off and attempted to start a fight, the woman and other victims reported. Hennis allegedly assaulted the woman, who was taken to the hospital by friends, and ran from the scene.

The victims were able to describe distinctive tattoos they saw on the suspect's body when his shirt was removed, said Cmdr. Jeremy Clifton of the Mankato Department of Public Safety. An officer investigating the assault also was able to use recordings from downtown video cameras to see the suspect's face and the portions of the tattoos that were above his shirt collar. Officers were not able to identify Hennis by name at that point, however, Clifton said.

Around 2:40 a.m. Sunday the officer who investigated the assault report Saturday was sent to the downtown disturbance near the pickup. The officer was able to immediately identify Hennis as the suspect from the assault Saturday, Clifton said.

"We have the same officer working both events," Clifton said. "He had looked at the downtown video and was able to identify him."

Hennis was arrested and taken to a detoxification center. Police are requesting charges of second-degree assault, fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct for the Saturday incident. No charges are being requested as a result of the Sunday incident, Clifton said.

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