A confrontation on Austin's southwest side turned violent on Oct. 20 when police say a 20-year-old man pistol-whipped another man in the head and threatened a pregnant woman in a nearby car. Darrell Lance Abbot Hatfield now faces a felony second-degree assault charge and a gross-misdemeanor count of carrying a pistol without a permit, according to a criminal complaint filed in Mower County District Court.
Police Called to Fourth Avenue SW
According to the Post Bulletin, Austin police officers responded to the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue SW at about 9 p.m. for a firearms complaint. A man with injuries and cuts on his head told officers that Hatfield had pistol-whipped him during an argument, the outlet reported. Officers observed a few minor cuts near the victim's earlobe and jaw, though the man declined medical attention.
The alleged victim went with other people to meet a different man, according to Yahoo News. The man was sitting in the driver's seat of a red Chevrolet Camaro when the confrontation unfolded. He told police Hatfield struck him about three times in the head with a steel, black pistol, per the complaint — while witnesses in a second vehicle described Hatfield reaching into the open window of the Camaro and beating him with the gun, the station's report notes.
Second Car Held a Pregnant Passenger
A second vehicle involved in the confrontation held a pregnant woman in the passenger seat. Witness accounts diverge on exactly what happened next: some say Hatfield hit that second car with the gun, while others say he pointed it at the vehicle and threatened to shoot the woman inside, an account the Post Bulletin says is attributed to the criminal complaint. A woman in the Camaro told police Hatfield struck the driver twice with a black pistol and threatened to shoot them, and said she believed Hatfield fired the gun into the air four times.
Standoff Ends With Arrest, Weapon in a Closet
Officers established a perimeter around Hatfield's home following the confrontation, and he eventually walked out the front door and was taken into custody. After being read his Miranda rights, Hatfield told officers the gun was upstairs in a closet, per the complaint, where officers found a Glock with a magazine holding 10 rounds. Hatfield allegedly admitted he did not have a permit for the pistol — a tan 9mm Glock with skulls on the side — and said he had traded a truck for the weapon.
Charges, Bail and an Age Discrepancy
Hatfield was charged with one count of felony second-degree assault and a gross-misdemeanor count of carrying a pistol without a permit, according to the Post Bulletin's report, which also notes Hatfield's charge was a first offense for the weapons count. Yahoo News listed him as 20 years old.
At his first hearing Thursday, Oct. 22, Hatfield was granted bail of $50,000 with no conditions or $150,000 with conditions, the Post Bulletin reported. His next hearing had been scheduled for Nov. 5, though the outcome of that proceeding was not addressed in available reporting.
What the Law Says
Minnesota's statute on assault with a dangerous weapon, cited by the Minnesota Revisor's Office, provides that a person convicted under that section may be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $14,000, or both. Court records related to the case can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
