Elusive Assault Suspect Finally Arraigned in Olmsted County
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man accused of a kidnapping and assault in Rochester in June has finally been arraigned on felony assault charges stemming from the crime in Olmsted County Court.
Bail for 32-year-old Brent Espenson was set at $300,000 during his appearance Monday before Judge Robert Birnbaum, who ordered Espenson back to court for an evidentiary hearing in late December.
Espenson was already wanted on felony arrest warrants issued by multiple counties when he and another man allegedly held a man captive in a northwest Rochester mobile home and beat him with a padlock placed inside a sock, The other man charged in the case was arrested the day after the June 5th and is scheduled to stand trial on felony assault charges later this year.
It took several weeks for authorities to catch up with Espenson. He was nearly captured in the Rochester area on two occasions, including one during which he led an Olmsted County Sheriff’s deputy on a 100 mile-per-hour high-speed chase before he ditched the vehicle he was driving and fled on foot.
His luck finally ran out on June 29th when Wabasha County deputies investigating some daytime burglaries in the Millville area happened upon Espenson, who tried to escape by jumping into the fast-moving Zumbro River. As he was being carried downstream by the current, the deputies kept up their pursuit and he was eventually apprehended in a wooded area near Millville that night.
Following his arrest, Espenson was transported to the Goodhue County jail and was booked on felony assault charges. He is currently scheduled to go to trial in that case next month.
With updates at the top and bottom of the hour, listen to Newstalk 1340 KROC-AM for the latest local and national news.