Judge Upholds Charges For Attack on Minnesota Trooper
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A judge in Faribault County has cleared the way for two Milwaukee area men to stand trial on charges stemming from a brutal attack on a Minnesota State Trooper last December.
The judge shot down requests by 29-year-old Anthony Enrique and 29-year-old Montrell Smith to throw out the charges based on challenges to the legality of the traffic stop on I-90 that led to the attack on Trooper Doug Rauenhorst and the seizure of 16 pounds of marijuana. Both men are facing a half dozen felony assault, drug, and other charges.
Court records show the trooper suffered significant injuries and has received treatment at the Mayo Clinic for the long-term effects of a head injury after he was allegedly punched by the two men and dragged by their car after the officer pulled them over along I-90 for a traffic offense and smelled marijuana. After speeding away, Smith and Enrique alleged tossed bricks of marijuana from the car before ditching it in Albert Lea. The two men were later tracked to a nearby bar and were arrested.
Smith is currently scheduled to stand trial in January, while the trial for Enrique is slated to begin in early February.