Trial Begins for Woman Accused of Using Racial Slurs at Rochester Playground

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The trial of the former Rochester woman accused of using a racial slur at a local playground last year got underway in Olmsted County Court Monday. 

Read More: Olmsted County Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Rochester Racial Slur Case

37-year-old Shiloh Marie Hendrix is charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct.

The trial was originally set to be held in April but was pushed back to July in March. A motion to dismiss the case, filed by the defense, was denied in May.

Jury Selection Begins in Shiloh Hendrix Trial

She was originally charged with three disorderly conduct counts but the complaint was later amended to include two charges. 

Get our free mobile app

The case, which has attracted international attention, stems from a viral video depicting Hendrix being confronted for allegedly directing a racist slur at a young child and then repeating the slur multiple times at the person recording the video. 

It happened last April at the Roy Sutherland Playground in Soldiers Field Memorial Park. 

The charges say an 8-year-old boy, described in the court document as “profoundly and visibly autistic,” had taken an applesauce pouch from a diaper bag belonging to Hendrix. 

The child’s father and Hendrix chased after the boy, who had climbed onto a piece of playground equipment. Hendricks then repeatedly called the child a racial slur and snatched the applesauce from the child’s hand, the complaint says. 

See Also: Rochester Man Accused of Taking Sexually Explicit Photos of Sleeping Girl 

Another man at the park took out his phone, began recording a video and confronted Hendrix over her alleged use of the slur. She is then in video directing the same slur at the man recording the video, according to the complaint. 

Defense Motion Filed Ahead of Trial

A new filing in the case indicates Hendrix's defense attorney is asking the court to prohibit the prosecution from referring to the child’s autism, arguing it does not pertain to the case. 

A ruling on the motion was not available as of Noon on Monday. 

The proceedings began with jury selection. The jury selection process is set to continue on Tuesday.