A 21-year-old St. Cloud man is behind bars on a felony warrant for second-degree assault after police say he struck a motorcyclist with his car in July and took off. Anthony Bonk was booked into the Stearns County Jail on Tuesday, months after investigators say they traced a black Mazda hatchback involved in the crash back to his apartment.
According to WJON, St. Cloud police responded to a hit-and-run report near 25th Avenue North and 2nd Street on July 26. Officers found a man who had been hit while riding his motorcycle and who required medical attention. Witnesses told police that the driver of the Mazda and the motorcyclist had a verbal confrontation while driving, just before the crash.
Car Traced From Witness Accounts to Bonk's Apartment
Per the same report, investigators were able to track the car through witness statements and surveillance video, eventually connecting it to Bonk's apartment. When officers went to question him about the incident, police say Bonk fled on foot rather than talk with them.
Court records cited in the report allege that Bonk swerved into the motorcycle before fleeing the scene. The motorcyclist later identified Bonk in a photo lineup, and police say they found additional evidence linking his car to the crash. Those pieces, taken together, formed the basis for the felony warrant that led to Tuesday's booking.
What Minnesota Law Says About the Charge
Bonk was jailed on a warrant for second-degree assault. Under Minnesota Statutes, a person convicted of assaulting another with a dangerous weapon can face up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $14,000, or both — though that statute excerpt does not speak to how it might apply specifically to Bonk's case.
A Separate Stearns County Case Underscores the Stakes
Motorcyclist injuries from vehicle crashes aren't unique to this case. Earlier this year, charges were filed on March 4 against a 45-year-old Eden Valley man in a separate Stearns County crash that cost a motorcyclist his right leg, according to the St. Cloud Times. In that case, a crash reconstructionist concluded the driver failed to yield to the motorcyclist, who had the right of way. A court hearing in that matter was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on March 30 and was expected to be held virtually. The two cases are not connected, but both highlight how serious the consequences can be when drivers and motorcyclists collide on Stearns County roads.
