Man Dropped Rock From Twin Cities Overpass, Shattered Windshield, Broke Woman’s Arm: Police

LITTLE CANADA, MN — A Minneapolis man is accused of dropping a rock from a Twin Cities highway overpass, crashing it through the windshield of a Ford Escape, and breaking the driver’s arm.

Willie Charles Lassiter Jr., 29, is charged in Ramsey County with two counts of second-degree assault, including one for causing substantial bodily harm.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

On May 29, around 10:40 p.m., Ramsey County 911 received a call from westbound Highway 36, just west of the Rice Street overpass.

The caller reported that someone had dropped a rock onto their vehicle from the bridge. His girlfriend, who was driving, had suffered a broken arm.

A Minnesota State Trooper responded and found the Ford Escape pulled over on the shoulder. The driver confirmed that a rock had come from above, shattered the windshield, fractured her hand, and landed on the passenger-side floorboard.

She was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, a Ramsey County deputy spotted a man, later identified as Lassiter, leaving the nearby McDonald’s shortly after the incident.

Lassiter admitted to walking across the overpass but claimed he saw two women crossing in the opposite direction, according to the criminal complaint. He was released at the scene.

In a follow-up interview, the driver said she heard a "big boom" just before passing under the bridge.

When she pulled over, her “right arm was dangling,” and a large rock was inside the vehicle. Her passenger also suffered cuts to his arms and face.

“We could have been killed,” she told investigators.

The rock recovered from the Escape matched landscaping rocks at the nearby Metro Transit park-and-ride, located just southeast of the overpass.

Surveillance video from Cub Foods shows Lassiter shoplifting, then walking toward the overpass along the edge of the park-and-ride.

At 10:34 p.m., he bends down toward the rocks, appears to pick something up, and continues toward the bridge, police said.

• At 10:35:28 p.m., Lassiter enters the bridge.
• About 22 seconds later, before he reaches the westbound lanes, he disappears from view.
• At 10:36:34 p.m., the Ford Escape can be seen passing beneath the bridge. Seconds later, it begins to brake.

No other pedestrians were visible on the bridge during this time, contradicting Lassiter’s earlier statement.

Investigators later called a number associated with Lassiter’s residence. A man who claimed to be his brother answered and repeatedly asked what questions the investigator had. Authorities later determined Lassiter does not have a brother.

Lassiter has at least three prior felony convictions, including first-degree burglary.