Suspect in Brooklyn Park sexual assault home invasions was just out of prison, police say
Police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Wednesday evening arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint just days after being released from prison.
According to police, officers responded to the 7500 block of Jersey Avenue North at approximately 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. Officers learned that the suspect — 25-year-old Darius Olson-Baker — entered through an unlocked door and allegedly assaulted the woman an hour earlier. He had fled the scene before police arrived.
Brooklyn Park SWAT and detectives executed a search warrant on the 7600 block of Hampshire Avenue North at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, where they arrested Olson-Baker in connection with at least two sexual assaults.
The arrest comes after officers canvassed 40 blocks and went door-to-door to look for information.
Last week, Brooklyn Park police said a man broke into a home on the 7600 block of Hampshire Avenue North — blocks away from Wednesday morning's incident — and sexually assaulted a woman.
The woman told WCCO that she woke up just before 5 a.m. to see a man standing in her bedroom with a gun. She said he tied her mouth and hands and demanded money before assaulting her.
Police Chief Mark Bruley says Olson-Baker has committed numerous crimes in Brooklyn Park over the years. He has three prior felony convictions — two for weapons charges and another assault — and had been released from prison on July 7 after serving three years of a five-year sentence.
"Just 10 days out of prison, just unacceptable," Bruley said. "There's a lot of things that really bother me. The nature of the crime, the way our victims were approached in the middle of the night in their homes."
WCCO reached out to the Minnesota Department of Corrections about Olson-Baker's release. A spokesperson said he had completed his term of imprisonment, which is two-thirds of the executed sentence for his most recent offense. The spokesperson said this is a typical practice in Minnesota.
Olson-Baker is being held in the Hennepin County Jail and faces criminal sexual conduct and burglary charges.
"It's time to heal," Bruley said. "This was really traumatic and should not happen anywhere."
A community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park to discuss the situation.
Sexual Assault Resources
- (SOS – Ramsey County)
- Sexual Violence Center (SVC – Hennepin County)
- Aurora Center (U of MN)
- 360 Communities (Dakota County)
- Hope Center (Rice County)
- Canvas Health (Washington County)
- Alexandra House (Anoka County)
General Sites for information related to sexual assault and resources throughout Minnesota:
General Sexual Assault Websites:
