Hermantown P.D. Releases First Details In July 25 Road-Rage Attack It Calls ‘Altercation’

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Seven days after a violent road-rage attack of a 73-year-old man in Hermantown, the police department released its first news release Tuesday on the incident because the department says the investigation is now complete.

Aug. 1 press release

The release did not mention the suspect’s name, sex or age.  It also did not say anything about the victim in the crime.

The Hermantown Police Department release only confirmed a road-rage incident happened July 24, which resulted in an “altercation” at the intersection of Hermantown Road and Stebner Road.

Hermantown police said the suspect was later identified last week.

The release did not say if the suspect was arrested, but it did say police reports have been handed over to the city’s prosecutor — not the county’s prosecutor — for possible charges.

Meanwhile, last Thursday after the attack, the victim’s daughter talked exclusively to FOX 21 detailing just how violent the attack was and how the road rage unfolded:

Victim photo provided by family

HERMANTOWN, Minn. (July 27) – A 73-year-old man is recovering from a concussion and bruises after his daughter said the man and his wife were randomly attacked in Hermantown earlier this week in a case of road rage.

“My mom said she watched my dad’s head bounce off the concrete. And it was just the most scary situation I think she’s ever been in,” said Jodie Schmaltz, daughter of the victim.

Schmaltz told FOX 21 the driver was years younger than her parents — possibly in his 40s. She said the suspect threw her father to the ground and repeatedly punched him.

Her father was driving with her mother along Stebner Road around 8 p.m. Tuesday when the random driver of a pick-up truck began tailgating their vehicle, revving his engine and even following them when they tried pulling over to let the man pass.

Schmaltz said the violence broke out at a stop sign at Stebner and Hermantown roads when her dad got out of the car to find out what the driver wanted. She said the driver got out of his truck and pummeled her father to the ground with repeated punches.

“It was traumatizing. It was pretty bad. My dad’s 73 years old. He’s the most amazing person in the world. Especially, you know, I’m biased because my dad will give you the shirt off his back kind of guy. I mean, that was pretty bad. My mom’s pretty traumatized from it all, too,” Schmaltz.

Schmaltz said her father is lucky to be alive thanks to a jogger nearby and two homeowners who came out yelling.

“You know, it really just comes down to — my message is that if some if you’re coming up to a situation such as this, anybody that is willing to just step out and help, and even just a matter of trying to pull one aside, I don’t know. But I just feel like if it hadn’t been for those two gentlemen, I don’t know here my, where my father would be,” Schmaltz said.

After the attack happened, Schmaltz posted about the incident on the Hermantown, MN Neighbors Facebook page, which was widely shared and helped create awareness and possible leads.