Man, Angry at Ex-Girlfriend, Fatally Hit Pedestrian with Vehicle: Charges

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minneapolis man had his attempted second-degree murder charge upgraded to a single count of second-degree murder when the pedestrian he intentionally struck with his car died Monday evening, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday. Tristen Baier, 20, was charged late Monday afternoon with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault for striking 37-year-old Roberto Bernabe Cortez on Portland Avenue South near 28th Street late Saturday evening.

Baier made his first court appearance at Wednesday on the new second-degree murder charge, according to a news release.

According to the criminal complaint, a witness told police he heard a noise behind his home in the 2900 block of Portland Ave. S. and went out to investigate. He saw Baier smashing a car’s windows with a baseball bat. The witness chased after Baier, who climbed into a van and drove at the witness, who jumped out of the way. Baier’s van smashed into a parked vehicle, but he then drove south on Portland Avenue.

The witness said people came out to look at the damaged vehicle and about three minutes later, he saw Baier’s van make a right turn from 29th Street onto Portland Avenue and drive right at the people. Cortez was struck and badly injured. Baier crashed into two cars and the witness and others grabbed him when he got out of the van, the complaint states.

When police arrived, they arrested Baier. He told police he was angry at his ex-girlfriend and smashed her car windows with the bat, according to authorities. He still was angry when he was chased away, drove around the block and drove at the victim.

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