Shakopee man charged in attempted drowning

A New York Mills man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a woman, who was later hospitalized. 

According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Justin Lemon, age 38 of NY Mills, was arrested for third degree assault and felony domestic assault on Saturday, Aug. 30. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, authorities responded to a medical call in the afternoon of Aug. 30 at a residence on South Main Ave. Upon law enforcement arrival, deputies allegedly found a female victim lying on the floor with significant facial trauma which appeared to have been caused by assault. 

After securing the scene, Otter Tail County Sheriff Deputies, NY Mills Rescue and Astera Ambulance provided medical attention to the victim before she was transported to Perham Health. She was later air lifted to a hospital in Fargo, N.D. for further medical attention. 

Deputies reportedly located Lemon inside the residence and took him into custody without incident. 

Attempted drowning

On Aug. 30 at approximately 3:50 p.m., the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a 40-year-old male was attempting to drown family members on Otter Tail Lake near an address on Augustan Dr. (on the northwest corner of the lake). 

Prior to law enforcement arrival, a neighbor and family members were able to free a 25-year-old female and a 64-year-old female from the incident and bring them to safety while the suspect remained on Otter Tail Lake. 

According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office the sheriff’s office learned that Franklin Dickinson, age 42 of Shakopee, Minn., became angry and allegedly grabbed his sister by the throat and began choking her under water. At some point the sister lost consciousness and was being held on the bottom of the lake by the suspect. The 64-year-old mother of both of the individuals intervened and the alleged suspect began engaging her and pulling her hair down towards the water.

According to authorities, a male neighbor heard the commotion and was able to intervene enough where both female victims were able to be freed and were treated on the scene by EMS. The 25-year-old female sustained neck, chest and collarbone injuries and was treated on the scene for what was believed to be minor non-life threatening issues. The 64-year-old mother is believed to not have any major injuries as well, according to authorities.

The 42-year-old male was talked out of the water by two Otter Tail County Deputies and subsequently arrested on several charges including felony level domestic assault by strangulation, second degree assault with a deadly weapon, along with additional charges of domestic assault. 

Agencies who responded to the incident included: Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Battle Lake Police Department, Minnesota DNR, Ringdahl Ambulance and Battle Lake Rescue.