Suspect Arrested in Connection to Severe Beating of a St. Cloud State University Student

(KNSI) — Police in St. Cloud say the man accused of severely assaulting a St. Cloud State University student has been arrested.

According to a press release from St. Cloud police, officers were called to a fight in the 700 block of 8th Street South on September 18th at around 1:40 a.m. When police arrived, they said they couldn’t find anyone involved in a fight, but they eventually located a 20-year-old man at a nearby home with injuries to his head and face. He was brought to St. Cloud Hospital for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.

The press release says since that night, officers with the St. Cloud Police Department Community Response Team have been investigating the details surrounding what happened that morning. Based on “information developed through this investigation, probable cause was developed” Tuesday to make an arrest.

Police took a 20-year-old Burnsville man into custody just after 6:00 Tuesday night in the 600 block of University Drive South. Police say the suspect was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Stearns County jail, where he will be held pending formal charges related to felony assault. KNSI does not typically name suspects until they have been formally charged.

St. Cloud State University said it was aware of an “off campus incident” involving a student, and said student safety is a top priority and they were working to investigate the alleged assault.

According to a petition created by the victim’s family, they say, Chad Waldrop, who is a member of the SCSU men’s swim team, was in his apartment on September 18th and heard a woman screaming outside. They say he went to make sure everything was OK and was told to mind his own business. The website says when Waldrop turned to go back to his apartment, he was attacked from behind and beaten so severely, his nose was broken in four places, he suffered fractures to his cheekbones and upper jaw, and a broken left cheekbone. He also suffered bilateral black eyes, chipped teeth, and other cuts and bruises. The injuries are so severe, the family says Chad had his jaw wired shut and needs facial reconstruction surgery and metal plates in his face so he can breathe properly. The family also says the suspect and a female dragged Chad’s body back into his apartment and left him for dead, which was where the police found him, thanks to eyewitnesses who called police.

The family alleges that the school and police department were slow to act until the story began to spread across social media. They did thank the SCPD for moving on the investigation. They say Chad has to take a minimum of a semester off of school for healing and headed home to Charleston, South Carolina.

The suspect is expected to be charged Thursday.

___