Rochester Man Sentenced for Metal Pole Assault at City Park

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A homeless man was sentenced today for attacking another man with a metal pole at a Rochester park last summer.

According to the criminal complaint against 42-year-old Dustin Bennett Sandlin, Rochester police responded on the morning of July 16 to a report of an assault at Soldiers Field Park. Responding officers reported they found the victim suffering from injuries to his mouth and visibly distressed.

Long Metal Pole Used in Attack

The court document says the victim identified Sandlin as his attacker and told officers Sandlin was armed with a 4- to 5-foot-long metal pole. Officers stated the victim was spitting blood and that his teeth were “crooked and bloodied, appearing substantially disfigured.”

Witnesses Describe the Attack

The criminal complaint says the assault was witnessed by multiple individuals. A woman told police she was exiting a restroom at the park when she saw Sandlin swinging a metal pole at the victim’s face and then at her. She indicated Sandlin threw the pole down and that she picked it up in an effort to keep it away from him, but he grabbed it back and ran across the pedestrian bridge toward South Broadway.

Another witness described seeing Sandlin approach the victim from behind and strike him on the head with the metal pole, which officers later located at the base of a tree on the west side of the pedestrian bridge. That witness also reported seeing the woman attempt to intervene before Sandlin fled.

Suspect Arrested on Texas Warrant

The charging document says police later located Sandlin and arrested him on an extraditable warrant issued by authorities in Texas. The criminal complaint says Sandlin claimed the victim had stolen money from him.

Get our free mobile app

Sandlin was charged with felony counts of third-degree and second-degree assault, along with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and giving police a false name. He later entered into a plea agreement and admitted to the third-degree assault charge in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charges.

Placed on Probation

Sandlin was sentenced today to five years of probation. He was also given a stayed 15-month prison sentence that could be imposed if he fails to complete probation.

More Minnesota News:

• ICE Agents Kill 37-Year-Old Woman in Minneapolis
• Video Shows What Happened During ICE Agent Involved Shooting in Minneapolis
• Audit Finds Fabricated Documents in Minnesota Grant Programs