Burnsville Man Charged with Attacking 74-Year-Old Woman on Park Trail
A Burnsville man is jailed and charged in a New Year’s Day morning attack on a 74-year-old woman on a park trail near Crystal Lake in the city. The incident has raised concerns about public safety and the need for increased vigilance in community spaces.
Dashawn Jawaun Newton (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)
Details of the Attack
Dashawn Jawaun Newton, 23, grabbed the woman from behind, put his gloved hand over her mouth, and told her that he had a knife and not to scream, according to charges filed Wednesday in Dakota County District Court. The woman fought Newton, who had thrown her to the ground and at one point kneeled on her, the criminal complaint said.
The victim believed that Newton was going to sexually assault her, as she did not have any other property on her person for him to take. Newton eventually fled after asking her about her husband. Surveillance recordings at nearby apartment buildings helped lead police to Newton, who was arrested Monday.
Investigation and Arrest
Newton went before a judge Wednesday on charges of false imprisonment, threats of violence, and fifth-degree assault. His attorney, Marcus Almon, declined to comment on the charges when reached by phone Wednesday. Newton remains jailed on $100,000 bail, which was requested by Assistant Dakota County Attorney Cory Monnens.
According to the prosecutor’s bail request filing, Newton is a suspect in three indecent exposure incidents that occurred in Burnsville between October and December. The incidents involved Newton masturbating outside of random strangers’ homes, with two cases caught on Ring video doorbell recordings and one witnessed by a person outside her sliding glass door.
Public Safety Concerns
The attack has raised concerns about public safety in the community, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly. The incident highlights the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and reporting suspicious activity to the authorities.
Burnsville police alerted the public of the attack on Jan. 1 and asked residents in the area to review home surveillance footage. Investigators viewed surveillance recordings from nearby apartment buildings and identified Newton on the video, matching the description given by the woman.
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