Man Kept Awake by Argument Charged in Assault on Rochester Woman

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The criminal complaint filed against a Rochester man accused of breaking into a woman's apartment and assaulting her indicates he was upset over a loud argument between the victim and her significant other that was preventing him from sleeping.

34-year-old Justin Tayte Peterson was formally arraigned Monday in Olmsted County Court on a first-degree burglary charge. He has also been charged with one count each of misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor theft in connection with the incident Saturday night.

According to the criminal complaint, Olmsted County Sheriff's Deputies were sent to an apartment complex in Marion Township around 8:30 PM to investigate a report of an assault. Upon their arrival, they met with a woman who lived in the complex who identified Peterson as her attacker.

The court document says the woman and her significant other had come into an argument and the man responded by leaving the apartment and walking toward his vehicle. The victim stated that she then opened the door to her apartment and began yelling at her boyfriend.

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That is when Peterson allegedly left his neighboring apartment in "an aggressive manner" armed with a Taser. The victim told deputies that Peterson pushed her into her apartment and was attempting to hold her down when she bit him on the shoulder.

The criminal complaint says he allegedly responded by putting his left hand around her neck and lifting her off the ground, causing her to choke. The victim says he eventually dropped her and she fell to the ground as Robinson allegedly grabbed her cell phone and went to his apartment.

When the deputies arrived, they reported that Peterson was inside his apartment and refused to exit. The deputies eventually executed a forced entry and placed Peterson under arrest. The court document includes an excited utterance issued by Peterson after his arrival at the jail during which he said, "I don't care that I put my hands on a woman's back because she wouldn't shut the $%&! up while I was trying to sleep."

The complaint states the responding officers could see marks on the victim’s neck that were consistent with being choked. They also recovered a “brass knuckles taser” at the apartment.

The judge at his arraignment today authorized his release without bail. Peterson is due back in court next month.

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