Inset: Michael Brian Fritz (Washington County Sheriff's Office). Background: Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park in Minnesota (Washington County).
A 53-year-old Minnesota man allegedly tried to mow down campground employees with his car because they were watching him argue with his girlfriend, forcing them to hide behind a tree to avoid being hit.
Michael Brian Fritz is facing two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of fleeing a police officer. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded around 1 p.m. July 14 to the Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park for a disturbance.
Deputies spoke with the husband and wife who reported that a man in a maroon sedan tried to run them over. When asked how she was doing, the wife responded, "better now, I don't think I have been that scared ever."
The couple explained they worked at the campsite and were picking up trash when they heard arguing. They looked over and saw a man, later identified as Fritz, yelling at his girlfriend. Fritz allegedly began screaming and swearing at them and told them to "stop looking at them."
Fritz allegedly hopped in his car and drove "directly" at the husband and came "within feet" of running him over. The defendant allegedly made a "wide turn" and aimed the car at the wife.
"According to [the victim], she had to run behind a large oak tree to protect herself as the vehicle came within a couple feet of the tree," deputies wrote.
A camper witnessed the ordeal and confirmed the couple's account.
Cops arrested Fritz after a "brief foot pursuit." Fritz said he was "upset" with the employees because they were "looking at his campsite."
"I didn't try to run anyone over, I think they thought that," he told deputies, per the affidavit.
A deputy thought that was an "odd statement" because the deputies had yet to mention the campsite to Fritz.
Fritz was arrested and taken to the Washington County Jail, where he has since posted a $10,000 bond. His next court date is set for Sept. 16.