Oakdale Man Charged for Punching Men Outside of Italian Restaurant

An Oakdale man who allegedly punched two men outside of  in June was charged for third-degree assault that caused substantial bodily harm.

John Paul Peterson, 29, was charged in Washington County District Court last week. Peterson was for the incident.

According to the criminal complaint:

The Oakdale Police Department responded to an assault report around 2 a.m. on June 23. When the officer arrived approximately 20 people were surrounding a male laying unconscious in the parking lot. The officer saw the man had a head injury and there was a large amount of blood on his head.

The victim was transported to Regions Hospital where doctors confirmed the victim received a broken nose, a fracture to the back of his skull and a small brain bleed in the front of his brain. 

Police spoke with several witnesses at the scene who said a man wearing a white tank top got in an argument with three males and punched one of the men. During the fight a separate male walked through the group when the suspect also punched the man twice in the face, knocking him to the ground. 

According to witnesses, the suspect — later identified as Peterson — got into a white SUV and fled the scene. 

Officers located the vehicle on Helmo Avenue and 15th Street. The suspect and two other males in the SUV appeared to have dried blood on their hands.

Peterson was brought back to the scene where several witnesses confirmed that Peterson had punched the two men.

If Peterson is found guilty he could spend up to five years in prison and pay $10,000 in fines for the felony assault.