GRAND MARAIS, Minn. - A Northfield man is charged with first degree assault and assault on a deputy in connection with an incident at a counter-cultural gathering last weekend.
The criminal complaint filed against 20-year-old Spencer Fredrickson accuses him of biting off part of someone's finger and scratching a law enforcement officer through his protective gloves as he tried to help the defendant the night of August 25.
Investigators say the trouble began when Fredrickson was discovered going through vehicles parked at the Wisconsin-Minnesota Rainbow Gathering at Trout Lake. A woman inside one of the vehicles was frightened by Frederickson and screamed, causing a number of people to come running. A woman who was one of those responding says she chased the defendant into the woods, and heard him crying. She says when she tried to comfort him Fredrickson began groping her, then attempted to strangle her. The woman says the defendant put his hands inside her mouth, "pulling her face apart as hard as he could" as she screamed for her life.
A group of people soon arrived and tried to pull the defendant off the woman, describing him as exhibiting "super-human strength." During the struggle he also bit off part of a man's finger. They were finally able to get Frederickson off, duct taping him until law enforcement arrived.
Fredrickson was reportedly squeezing his hands together to cut off his own circulation, and when a deputy tried to stop him the defendant reportedly dug his fingers through the deputies protective gloves, breaking the skin.
When questioned Fredrickson allegedly told investigators he had ingested LSD, LSA (a building block of LSD) and hallucinogenic 'Morning Glory' seeds, and was unclear about what had transpired. The defendant's behavior was described as delusional.
Rainbow Gatherings are counterculture events founded on celebrating peace, harmony, freedom and respect, though in recent years authorities have become increasingly concerned over escalaing drug use and violence at these events.
