WILLMAR -- An 19-year-old New London man was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and third-degree assault, for allegedly stabbing another man during a fight early Monday morning in Willmar.
Unconditional bail was set at $100,000 for Tyler Dean Ryks.
Conditional bail was set at $75,000. Ryks was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim and to stay away from firearms or dangerous weapons. Ryks' next appearance in Kandiyohi County District Court is Oct. 27.
According to the complaint, a Willmar police officer was called around 4 a.m. Monday to the emergency room of Rice Memorial Hospital. The officer spoke to a man who said he had been at a relative's apartment and that he and several others had been in a fight with Ryks in the parking lot of the building.
He said Ryks struck him in the left side of the chest near the center of his rib cage and that he immediately noticed blood. He didn't see what Ryks used to cause the wound.
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A doctor at the hospital confirmed that the puncture wound, which required sutures to close, was caused by a knife.
Others who witnessed the incident confirmed the injured man's statements.
One man informed the officer he had seen Ryks with a pocket knife clipped to the outside of his pants. The man said he saw Ryks put something in his pocket after striking the injured man.
Another witness received a phone call from Ryks while being interviewed by the officer. The officer spoke to Ryks and asked him to provide a statement. Ryks claimed he was attacked by three big guys and shouldn't be in trouble.
Ryks was arrested later that day at a relative's home and was taken to the county jail. He declined to talk with the officer.
