13-03-2025
Charges: Rochester man accused of stabbing half-brother
Mar. 12—ROCHESTER — A Rochester man is facing two felony assault charges related to a March 10 stabbing , according to new court documents filed Wednesday, March 12.
Eric Dewayne Fields Jr., 25, of Rochester, was charged in Olmsted County District Court with one count of first-degree assault that inflicted great bodily harm and one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, both felonies.
The charges come two days after he was arrested in the Olmsted County Government Center parking lot for his alleged involvement in the stabbing.
During his first appearance in court on Wednesday, Fields was placed on $100,000 bail with conditions. His next hearing is scheduled for March 26.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a report of a stabbing around 9:40 a.m. on March 10. When officers arrived at the apartment building located on the 3400 block of Kenosha Drive Northwest, a witness led them to the second floor where they saw a 31-year-old man lying on the floor of the hallway.
The man told police he was stabbed by his brother.
The complaint said the man was stabbed to the left side of his sternum, and blood was continuing to flow out of the wound. The man was transported to St. Marys Hospital.
While in the hospital, the man said that his half-brother, Fields, slept in his home that night. The complaint said the man woke up the next morning to see that Fields was in his room "sneaking around, looking for something."
After the man asked Fields what he was doing, Fields took the covers off of the man. The man rolled over on the bed, and then Fields stabbed him, the complaint alleges.
The two wrestled, and the knife fell to the floor. The man attempted to get to the front door, but got tired and slid to the floor.
According to the complaint, the apartment's surveillance footage showed the man leaving his apartment before collapsing in the hallway. Minutes later, Fields was seen exiting the apartment.
Law enforcement determined that Fields went to the HyVee on West Circle Drive Northwest, made a phone call and was picked up by a silver Toyota Camry.
Officers located the Camry parked at the Olmsted County Government Center with Fields inside. Fields was placed under arrest.
When Fields spoke to police, he said he slept near the old Kmart building in southeast Rochester, denied being on the northwest side of the city at all and described the man as a "friend" rather than brother.
"After being confronted by Det. Kusick with these untruths," the complaint said, "Fields claimed the incident was self-defense, while being evasive and confused about the details."
