Pedal-Pub conviction - John D. Rock

1 man convicted among 5 charged in ambush of Pedal Pub patrons - Shakopee man is fined, put on probation; others had their cases dismissed because of a lack of evidence.
Excerpt:

Of the five people charged, only one was convicted for the ambush of Pedal Pub riders with water balloons and high-velocity squirt guns in Minneapolis, a roving late-spring outburst that brought to an apex the simmering culture clash over the rolling drinking parties on the downtown social scene. John D. Rock Jr., 25, of Shakopee, pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection with the prank. Rock was fined $300, ordered to pay restitution of $395 to the Pedal Pub proprietor and also has a stayed 45-day jail sentence hanging over his head for one year. Dropped were misdemeanor charges of fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct involving fighting or brawling. As for the other four, the city attorney’s office dropped misdemeanor charges for what it said was a lack of evidence. The case against Rock went forward, city spokesman Matt Lindstrom said, because of “direct evidence” against him. The five who were charged were accused of throwing water balloons and shooting squirt guns at mobile pub passengers during a series of bicycle ride-by attacks in downtown Minneapolis on May 23. On the third foray, the targeted pedal pub patrons just happened to be off-duty Burnsville police officers, who chased down the perpetrators and held them until Minneapolis police arrived. The case made specifically against Rock was strengthened, according to the criminal complaint, because Pedal Pub driver Destiny Hayden snapped a photo that showed Rock sporting a large water gun strapped to his hip. Also, the complaint continued, a witness told police he saw Rock strike an off-duty officer in the head with a water gun while the officer was holding down one of Rock’s cohorts. Surveillance video also captured the blow, the complaint added.

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