MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 39-year-old man from Bloomington has been charged after police say he threw several objects at cars and trucks, including a vise that seriously injured an Iraq War veteran.
Gerret Daniel Parks has been charged with four counts of first-degree damage to property and one count of first-degree assault in connection to several incidents.
A warrant has been issued for Parks’ arrest. Parks posted bail early Sunday morning in Hennepin County, where he was being held in connection with property damage incidents. Then on Monday, he bailed out of a Polk County, Wis. jail, after being arrested for drunk driving and fleeing police.
In both cases, bail was set by a judge.
According to the criminal complaint, Bloomington Police received 14 reported crimes of damage to vehicles from objects being thrown at moving vehicles on Normandale Boulevard, between 84th Street and 98th Street.
Most of the incidents caused significant damage to the front of the victim’s vehicle. Several of the victims reported the object came from the driver’s side of an oncoming vehicle.
Among the items thrown, police said there was a large water jug, an anvil-shaped heavy object, a Bartles and James liquor bottle, a box of baking soda, a glass bottle, a large rock, a 15-pound hex dumbbell (cut in half) and a bench vise.
The vise that was thrown hit veteran Jon Stacke in the face, breaking his jaw and shattering nine of his teeth. Stacke said he lost consciousness during the incident and his passenger was forced to grab the steering wheel and pull the emergency brake to stop the vehicle.
Investigators completed a search warrant of Parks’ home and found a receipt for Bartles and James Pomegranate Raspberry Wine and dumbbells matching the description from a prior incident. Parks also admitted to recently throwing away a vise and a 15-pound dumbbell.
Parks was placed under arrest after the search warrant and was transferred to the Bloomington Police Department. During an interview with police where Parks was questioned about throwing various objects, he said he threw away all objects several weeks before the incidents. He claimed a former friend must have stolen the items and was trying to set him up.
Police also noted they had surveillance tape showing Parks purchasing a large water jug and the Bartles and James wine. Parks said he put the water jug outside to get cold so someone else must have stolen it. He also said he doesn’t even like Bartles and James wine.
Later at the Bloomington Police Department jail, Parks became suicidal and tried to slit his wrists with the zipper of his pants, according to the complaint. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center and then to Hennepin County Jail where he posted a $50,000 bond and was released.
Parks was again arrested on Sunday in St. Croix Falls, Wis., after he was found driving a BMW 70-80 mph in a 35-mph zone. Police arrested him for fleeing police, DWI and resisting arrest.
Parks allegedly told the officers he was suicidal and was thinking of driving off a bridge, according to the complaint.
He again posted bond in Wisconsin and was released.
Parks is considered a danger to himself, as well as the community.
