Crookston Hotel Attack: 3 Face Felony Charges

CROOKSTON, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Three men accused of attacking a coworker inside a Crookston hotel room now face felony charges.

Juan Jose Erazo Herrera, 26, and Wilber Arnulfo Cartagena-Hernandez, 35, were charged Monday in Polk County District Court.

Each man faces one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

Juan Carlos Alberto-Serrano, 29, was charged Friday with the same felony offense.

All three men remain in custody while their cases move through court.

Attack Reported Inside Hotel Room

The charges follow an alleged July 23 attack at the Crookston Inn.

The hotel is located at 2200 University Avenue in Crookston.

According to criminal complaints, the men worked on a grain bin construction crew.

Two men had been fired before the attack. Another man had quit following a workplace dispute.

The victim was also part of the crew but refused to leave his job.

Court records say the victim was inside his hotel room that evening.

The complaints allege Erazo Herrera had threatened the crew earlier that day.

He allegedly said he would kill crew members if they refused to quit.

Later that night, all three defendants allegedly entered the victim’s room.

Erazo Herrera is accused of striking the victim in the head with a rock.

Prosecutors allege Alberto-Serrano and Cartagena-Hernandez held the victim down on a bed.

The victim told investigators his arms were pinned behind his back.

The men allegedly told him they planned to kill him.

The victim said he did not know why the attack stopped.

He suffered a large cut on the right front side of his head.

Emergency crews transported him to RiverView Health for medical treatment.

Investigators also reviewed hotel surveillance video after the reported attack.

The complaints say video showed Alberto-Serrano placing rocks inside a white towel.

Detectives later found a knotted towel inside his room.

Four rocks, each about the size of a golf ball, were allegedly found inside.

The towel also appeared to have blood stains, according to the complaints.

Prosecutors have filed notice that they may seek longer sentences if convictions occur.

They cited the alleged involvement of three or more people.

They also cited the hotel room as a place where the victim expected privacy.

The charges remain allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Case information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.