Man charged after allegedly assaulting woman on Burnsville walking trail

A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a woman on a Burnsville walking trail on New Year’s Day.

Dashawn Jawaun Newton, 23, is facing one count of false imprisonment, one count of threats of violence, and one count of fifth-degree assault.

RELATED: Increased patrols after assault reported on park trail near Crystal Lake

According to court documents, on Thursday, police responded to an assault near Crystal Lake in Burnsville. A woman said she was walking on a trail through Crystal Lake Park when she was approached by a man, who asked her questions about the area.

She said her husband was in the area and walked away, but about 10 minutes later, the same man came up behind her and put his gloved hand over her mouth, the criminal complaint states. The man allegedly told her he had a knife and not to scream.

The woman said she tried to resist, but the man threw her to the ground and began kneeling on her.

Court records note that she believed he was going to sexually assault her, and when he asked if her husband was wearing all black, she said yes, and then the man got up and ran away.

A witness who was running on the trail helped the woman, and then she called the police.

Authorities checked nearby surveillance video at an apartment building and found a suspect matching the woman’s description driving an SUV, according to court documents.

On Monday, police went to a different apartment building that the man, identified as Newton, was known to be at and saw the same SUV leaving the underground parking garage. The criminal complaint says that officers followed the car, confirmed it was Newton and arrested him.

During a statement to police, Newton said on New Year’s Day, he was walking on the trails when the woman started talking to him. He claims that they parted ways, but then said the woman started yelling at him and saying her husband was going to beat him up.

According to the complaint, he said the woman “came up on him,” and he pushed her to the ground. He said when the woman started screaming for help, he left and went back to his apartment.

He denied putting his hand over the victim’s mouth in the interview with police.

Newton is currently in custody at the Dakota County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 4.
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