HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 11-19 Maplewood police investigating death stemming from Rice Street bar assault MAPLEWOOD REVIEW Maplewood police
investigating
death stemming
from Rice Street
bar assault
Holly Wenzel ants had beat him up and
Review staff then fled in a vehicle.
Figueroa said he had
Maplewood police are been knocked down and
investigating the death of kicked "numerous times
a 40-year-old St.Paul man about the face and head,"
after he was assaulted police reported.
inside Fred's Tiki Hut, a "Mr. Figueroa refused
bar at 1820 Rice St to be seen by paramedics,
Currently, a 23-year-old telling officers he preferred
man is in custody, being to go to the hospital on his
held on suspicion of mur- own," the report conten-
der. ues. "About an hour after
According to Maple- Mr. Figueroa returned to
wood Police Chief Paul his St. Paul home, he told
Schnell, Maplewood offs- family members he was
cers were summoned to ill and shortly thereafter
the bar just before mid- went unconscious."
night Tuesday,Nov.11. St. Paul police offi-
They found the vic- cers and fire paramedics
time 40-year-old Eduardo responded to the Figueroa
Alberto Figureroa of St.
Paul,who said three assail- see Death on page 3
Death••• was arrested on suspicion of on average, more than once
homicide. Investigators are a week.
continued from page 1 actively seeking'two other Rookies ran afoul of gam-
people,a man and a woman, Ming laws due to betting on
in connection with the inci- turtle races, featured over-
home to find he stopped dent. crowding and parking prpb-
breathing and had no pulse. Police are not releasing lems and at one point was
They undertook "an exten- the identities of the two the setting for what police
sive effort"to revive him,but remaining suspects at this described as "a riot" with
he was pronounced dead at time. more than 50 people throw-
the scene. The Ramsey County med- ing fists and bottles in the
ical examiner's office is con- parking lot,the bar manager
Protecting his daughter ducting an autopsy. hiding in her office and ter-
Reportedly, preliminary Anyone with informa- rifled patrons stampeding
investigation centers on lion or knowledge as to the down Rice Street.That inci-
a dispute inside the bar, identity and/or whereabouts dent led to a suspension of
in which a woman associ- of the remaining suspects is the bar's liquor license.
ated with Smith and the asked to call the Maplewood Neighbors, police and
other male suspect allegedly Police Depai tment at 651- Maplewood City Council
began to assault Figueroa's 767-0640 or 9-1-1. Anony- members breathed a sigh of
18-year-old daughter, who mous text message tips relief when the place was
had arrived to pick him up. can be sent by texting the then sold and rebranded as
Figueroa reportedly tried word Maplewood and the a tiki bar.
to intervene,was knocked to tip information to TIP411 According to a story in the
the floor and kicked in the (847411). Review in January 2013,the
face and head by Smith and incoming owner planned to
the other male Troubled past institute a strict dress code,
Acting on information This is not the first time banning sleeveless shirts,
regarding the license plate the bar at that location has baggy pants and dangling
on the suspect vehicle, a garnered police attention; jewelry that seemed to
Maplewood officer found a former iteration, "Rook- be favored by the Rookies
the car in the area of Rice ies Sports Bar," reportedly crowd.
Street and Hyacinth still became a focus for fights,
occupied by one of the assaults and alleged gang Holly Wenzel can be
men involved in the alleged activity in 2011-12. reached at review @lillienews.
assault. The occupant of At one point, the bar had corn or at 651-748-7817.
the vehicle, Brandon Jermel racked up 50 separate calls
Smith, age 23, of St. Paul, to police in less than a year-
NOV 1 9 2014