Inset: Alexander Dennis Jr. (St. Louis County Jail). Background: Tommy’s Rainy Lake Saloon in Virginia, Minnesota (Google Maps).
An Illinois man, aged 33, found himself under arrest in Minnesota after allegedly attempting to run over a woman following a disappointing first date.
Identified as Alexander Lee Dennis Jr., he was apprehended last week and now faces multiple felony charges. These include second-degree assault, fleeing law enforcement in a vehicle, and possession of stolen goods, according to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime.
On the evening of October 21, Dennis traveled to Virginia, a town in Minnesota’s Iron Range, to meet a woman he had been chatting with on Facebook, as reported by the Kansas City Star, referencing a probable cause affidavit.
The pair met at Tommy’s Rainy Lake Saloon in Virginia, located approximately 200 miles northeast of Minneapolis, according to Bring Me The News.
While at the bar, Dennis reportedly became agitated. After leaving, he was expected to drive the woman back to her home.
However, concerns arose when Dennis allegedly bypassed her residence and instead headed to a nearby Lucky Seven store. When the woman attempted to leave the vehicle, she claims Dennis forcibly pulled her back inside by her shoulders.
A short while later, the victim managed to escape the vehicle, the affidavit says. As she was walking along the sidewalk in front of the store, Dennis allegedly drove his vehicle over the curb and attempted to strike the victim with his car. While the victim was able to avoid Dennis’ car, he allegedly swerved and attempted to hit her a second time.
Though the victim was able to escape, she called a friend and 911, telling both that Dennis had tried to run her down and was currently following her. Police responded to the scene and soon located Dennis’ Audi sedan, which was reportedly fleeing the scene “at a high rate of speed.”
Authorities said they located the Audi a short distance away. It had been abandoned. They later discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Indiana. Not far from where the abandoned vehicle was located, police reportedly found Dennis as he was walking through a Target parking lot.
Dennis reportedly told police he did not know why he was being placed under arrest before refusing to speak to officers. He is currently being held in the St. Louis County Jail without bond, records show.
