Grand Forks man charged in walking stick assault

Grand Forks, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks man faces a felony charge after an alleged assault inside an apartment building.

What the police say happened

A probable cause statement describes the call. Officers were dispatched on January 15. They went to 500 1st Avenue South. The call reported an assault in progress; the staff at the building directed officers to an apartment.

Officers found the victim in a hallway outside his unit, the report says. The victim had a bleeding cut on the top of his head.

Investigators identified the suspect as Alfred Gardner-Haywood of Grand Forks. The report says Gardner-Haywood claimed the victim attacked him first. He also claimed the victim refused to leave his apartment. He said he acted in self-defense.

The victim gave a different account in the report. The victim said he was seated in a chair. He said he was putting on a medical boot. He said Gardner-Haywood struck him twice in the head. The victim said the blows came from a wooden walking stick.

A separate witness supported the victim’s account, according to the filing. That witness reported seeing Gardner-Haywood hit the victim. Officers then arrested Gardner-Haywood, the report says.

Charge filed

Gardner-Haywood is charged with felony aggravated assault. Charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent. The case must be proved in court.

North Dakota law defines aggravated assault in Century Code § 12.1-17-02. The full assault chapter is posted by the North Dakota Legislative Branch.

How to follow the case

Future hearings will be scheduled by the court. Many court records can be searched on the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry site. Some details may be restricted by law.

Anyone with information can contact the local police. The City of Grand Forks lists options on its Police Department website.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.

Want more news from your town?

Choose your hometown and the stories you care about.

Get My Town Alerts →