Two local men charged with assault

By Michelle Ruckdaschel

Pioneer Staff Writer

      Two local men were charged Tuesday, March 16, 2004, in Beltrami County District Court with assaulting a 19-year old Cass Lake man.

      Douglas Arthur Redeagle, 20, of Red Lake, was charged with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Austin Henry Morris, 19, of Cass Lake was charged with felony aiding an offender.

      Both men are currently being held in Beltrami County District Court on $10,000 bail

      The assault charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. The aiding charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prisonand a $5,000 fine.

      At 12:42 a.m. Saturday, Beltrami County deputies and Leech Lake Tribal officers responded to a report of a stabbing at Williams Road home in rural Ten Lake Township.

      Paul Allen Conner, 19, of Cass Lake, was transported by Leech Lake Ambulance to Cass Lake Indian Hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds. His condition was not available.

      According to the criminal complaint, Morris and aconner had begun fighting over a remote control to a stereo system. A witness said the two went outside along with three others. Morris indicated to a deputy that he punched Connor and after receiving several blows, Connor fell against Redeagle.

      Morris allegedly grabbed a lighter to strengthen his fist during the fight. Officers found a lighter near the scene of the fight, also observing blood at that location.

      Morris reported that it wasn’t until after the fight that he saw Redeagle with a pair of scissors, according to the complaint. Morris allegedly then left the scene because “he was fearful.” 

      Redeagle allegedly stabbed Conner two or three times in the back with the scissors.

      The two men allegedly left the scene walking towards Morris’ home. A female who, later in the morning, allegedly picked up the two men from Morris’ home to bring them to her home, reported that she overheard Redeagle talking about how he stabbed Conner in the back with scissors.

      The two men were later found at the Duluth home of a relative of Morris. Duluth Police Officers apprehended Morris and Redeagle at the home.

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