(KNOX) –A 53-year-old Crookston man is facing a felony assault charge after police say he repeatedly punched someone in a parking lot. The victim suffered a deep cut above his eye that required stitches.
Chris Gabriel Noah was charged Tuesday in Polk County District Court with one felony count of third-degree assault for causing substantial bodily harm. He is also facing one gross misdemeanor for fifth-degree assault, and one gross misdemeanor for obstructing legal process. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.
A Crookston police officer was dispatched on Sunday at around 7 p.m. to 1700 Widman Lane on a report of a fight near a gazebo in the east parking lot. When the officer arrived, he found Noah standing over a man lying on the ground, and the man on the ground was bleeding from his face. A woman was also lying nearby on the ground.
The victim told police he and the woman were sitting at the gazebo when Noah came outside and sat nearby. The group began packing up to move away from Noah. As the victim tried to get around Noah with a wagon, Noah backed into him, became upset, and kicked the wagon over. The two grabbed each other, and the victim tried to push Noah away.
Noah then allegedly hit him on the side of the head, knocking his glasses to the ground. Noah then stomped on the glasses before he repeatedly punched the victim. Noah punched him in the eye when the victim was on the ground, and the victim said he heard a cracking noise when he was hit. Noah also pushed a woman to the ground.
Multiple witnesses confirmed what happened, as they told police Noah had been drinking. They had moved multiple times earlier in the day to try to avoid him.
The victim was transported to Riverview Hospital. The following day, the officer met with the victim and photographed the injury. Along with needing several stitches, the victim suffered purple discoloration and swelling.
Noah told police he had been jumped and struck the victim because the victim would not let go of him. When officers attempted to place Noah under arrest, he resisted a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy and two Crookston police officers trying to get him into a squad car. An officer noted Noah smelled of alcohol.
The complaint says that Noah pleaded guilty in July 2025 to harassment causing reasonable fear of substantial bodily harm in Polk County. He was sentenced to 360 days in jail and he remains on supervised probation in that case.
Noah was booked into the Tri County Corrections Center and his next court appearance is scheduled for July 14.
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