Man charged in assault of KSTP anchor Matt Belanger on light rail platform
Vennie Jerome Williams.[Hennepin County Sheriff's Office]
A man has been charged in the assault of KSTP anchor Matt Belanger.
Vennie Jerome Williams, 39, was charged with third-degree assault and harassment with intent to injure in an assault that occurred on Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to Fourth Street and Marquette Avenue near the Nicollet Avenue light rail platform. There, officers met with Belanger who stated that while walking across the Nicollet Avenue light rail platform, a person he did not know suddenly cocked his right arm back and threw what he thought was a rock directly at him. Matt was about 3 feet away when the object was thrown and it struck him in the left eye.
Belanger went to Hennepin County Medical Center where he learned that he had suffered a corneal and ocular abrasion, which could lead to permanent damage to his eye.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage of the incident and were able to identify the alleged assailant, who was found near Sixth Street S. and Marquette Avenue. According to the complaint, Belanger was transported to the area and he positively identified Williams as the attacker.
Williams is currently in custody, he is scheduled to appear in court Monday on the charges.
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