Man missing after police charge him with throwing items into traffic

by Matt Sepic, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — A Bloomington man is missing after Hennepin County authorities accused him of throwing items at moving cars, severely injuring the driver in one incident.

Gerret Daniel Parks, 39, is charged with first degree assault for allegedly throwing a vise into traffic. Parks faces charges in that incident as well as 13 similar incidents since late December.

But authorities don't know where he is. Parks posted bail Sunday in Hennepin County, where police were holding him on suspicion of property damage. On Monday, Parks bonded out of the St. Croix Falls, Wis. lockup after police arrested him for drunk driving and trying to flee.

Driver Jon Stacke was traveling along Normandale Boulevard last week when a vise came crashing through the windshield of his car. He was knocked unconscious, suffered a broken jaw and lost seven teeth.

A passenger was able to stop the car.

Once Parks is found, Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Deborah Russell said she plans to seek a half-million dollar bond because Parks poses a danger to himself and the community.