Two Men Charged for Role in Fight Outside of Rochester Bar

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two men were arraigned on felony charges Wednesday for their role in a fight outside of a Rochester bar early Tuesday morning. 

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Prosecutors say 20-year-old Kenneth Herrera of Rochester and 36-year-old Willie Friston of Clarksville, MS were seen beating a man suspected of being unconscious in the area of Broadway Ave. South and 3rd St. Southwest around 2:30 a.m. The criminal complaint said a bartender told responding officers he broke up an argument earlier in the night between the victim and the two men. The witnesses said Herrera and Frinston left the area in a vehicle and shared a description of the vehicle with officers. 

The complaint says police located Herrera and Friston sitting in a vehicle nearby. The men admitted to fighting the victim but said the conflict was mutual. Herrera said the victim started the fight by slapping Friston in the face.

While interviewing the men, police reported finding the victim’s wallet on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Herrera was arrested that morning at the scene while Friston was taken into custody later in the day from his place of employment after officers spoke with the victim at St. Mary’s Hospital, the complaint states. 

Following his arrest, Friston told police Herrera mentioned searching the victim’s pockets after the men determined the victim to be unconscious. He said Herrera showed him the victim’s wallet when they got into their vehicle after the fight. Herrera also admitted to taking the wallet while speaking with investigators, according to the complaint.

Friston is charged with third-degree assault. Prosecutors also charged Herrera with third-degree assault as well as first-degree aggravated robbery for allegedly taking the victim’s wallet. Officers who spoke with the victim in the hospital said he had visible injuries to his face and right eye lobe.