Inset: Alexander Dennis Jr. (St. Louis County Jail). Background: Tommy’s Rainy Lake Saloon in Virginia, Minnesota (Google Maps).
A 33-year-old man from Illinois was arrested in Minnesota after he allegedly tried to run down a woman he became “upset” with following their first date.
Alexander Lee Dennis Jr. was taken into custody last week and charged with a spate of felonies, including second-degree assault, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and being in possession of stolen property, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Dennis on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 21, traveled to the town of Virginia, in Minnesota’s Iron Range, to go on a date with a woman he had been messaging on Facebook, the Kansas City Star reported, citing a probable cause affidavit.
Dennis and the victim met at Tommy’s Rainy Lake Saloon in the town of Virginia, which is about 200 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Bring Me The News reported.
While the two were at the bar, authorities said Dennis “began to get upset.” After leaving the establishment, Dennis was supposed to take the victim back to her house.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
However, the victim became particularly concerned when Dennis allegedly drove past her house, instead traveling to a local Lucky Seven store. Then, when she tried to exit Dennis’ vehicle, the victim reportedly said he “grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her back into the vehicle.”
A short while later, the victim managed to escape the vehicle, the affidavit says. As she was walking along the sidewalk in front of the store, Dennis allegedly drove his vehicle over the curb and attempted to strike the victim with his car. While the victim was able to avoid Dennis’ car, he allegedly swerved and attempted to hit her a second time.
Though the victim was able to escape, she called a friend and 911, telling both that Dennis had tried to run her down and was currently following her. Police responded to the scene and soon located Dennis’ Audi sedan, which was reportedly fleeing the scene “at a high rate of speed.”
Authorities said they located the Audi a short distance away. It had been abandoned. They later discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Indiana. Not far from where the abandoned vehicle was located, police reportedly found Dennis as he was walking through a Target parking lot.
Dennis reportedly told police he did not know why he was being placed under arrest before refusing to speak to officers. He is currently being held in the St. Louis County Jail without bond, records show.
