54-Year-Old Accused of Striking Man in the Head with a Baton at Rochester Business

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A felony charge has been filed against a man accused of committing an assault with a baton at a Rochester business. 

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That’s according to the criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday. 

The alleged assault happened shortly before noon on Thursday and resulted in the victim needing medical treatment, the criminal complaint says. 

Felony Charge Filed for Baton Assault at Southeast Rochester Business

54-year-old Orlando Rice is charged with second-degree assault and misdemeanor fifth-degree assault. 

The complaint says Rochester police encountered the victim bleeding from a lacerating on his head when they responded to the southeast Rochester business. The business is not named in the complaint. 

TJ Leverentz TSM Rochester

According to the complaint, the victim said Rice was blocking vehicle access with his parked vehicle as the victim was trying to leave the business. 

He stated that he asked Rice to move and the victim returned to his vehicle. The charges say Rice told the victim all he had to was ask and the victim replied that he did. 

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Rice then became agitated and began yelling at the victim telling him to leave. He then walked over to the victim and struck him in the head with a baton, the complaint says.

A witness also reported seeing Rice hit the victim in the head with a baton, according to the court document. 

Assault Suspect Found During Traffic Stop

Rice left the business but police later found him in southeast Rochester. He was ordered out of the vehicle he was driving and detained. 

While speaking with police, Rice said the victim was the aggressor and that he showed the victim the baton to get him to back off.

He admitted to hitting the victim in the head but said that was not his intention, the charges say. 

Blood Found on Baton and Vehicle

The complaint describes the metal, expandable baton, which also serves as a flashlight, as 12 inches long.

It had blood on it and officers also found blood on the driver’s side door and exterior of the vehicle Rice was driving. There was also blood on Rice’s arm, the complaint says.

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Rice made his first appearance in Olmsted County Court on Friday. His conditional bail was set at $5,000 and he’s due back in court later this month.