A recent road rage incident in River Falls ended with one man stabbing another in the back in what he said was self-defense and a collection of felony charges. Roman Alejandro Eastin, 19, River …
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A recent road rage incident in River Falls ended with one man stabbing another in the back in what he said was self-defense and a collection of felony charges.
Roman Alejandro Eastin, 19, River Falls, was ordered to pay $500 cash bail Jan. 12 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony aggravated battery, felony second degree recklessly endangering safety and two felony bail jumping charges. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and/or fines up to $50,000.
According to the complaint: On Tuesday, Jan. 10, River Falls police officers responded to the area of State and Church streets around 8 p.m. for a report of two men fighting. When officers arrived, the 38-year-old male victim waved them down while the suspect, identified as Eastin, was walking away from the scene. One officer detained him while the other talked to the victim, who was bleeding from a stab wound in his lower back.
The victim told police he was heading south on Main Street near Walgreen’s/Powell Avenue going about 35 mph when Eastin sped up behind him and started flashing his lights. He said Eastin tailgated him and flashed his lights all the way down Main Street; he decided not to turn toward his residence for fear Eastin would follow him and kept going down Main. He wondered if Eastin was trying to get his attention because he left something on top of his car, so he stopped in the street near Family Fresh to check. When he saw nothing on the roof, he approached Eastin, who had stopped behind him, to find out if something was wrong. He said Eastin started calling him names and accusing him of going too slow. The two began arguing and Eastin called the victim “white boy” and “cracker,” who then admitted to hitting Eastin’s window and challenging him to get out of the car. When Eastin drove around him and left, he said “follow me,” so the victim followed him to Main and Church streets, where he said he thought they were going to “talk it out.” He told police in hindsight it was a poor decision, but he wanted to see what was wrong with the suspect. He said he parked behind Eastin, got out and asked him what his problem was.
According to the victim, Eastin was already out of his vehicle and charged him like a bull; they began shoving each other back and forth. In the glow from the headlights, he saw Eastin had a knife in his hand. As he turned to “create space” between them, Eastin charged him and stabbed him as he turned. He said he didn’t know he’d been stabbed at first, but felt a stinging sensation. He said he told Eastin to put the knife down and fight without it if he wanted to fight, but Eastin charged him again. When Eastin turned and headed back toward the vehicles, the victim followed because he was scared Eastin was going to slash his tires. Eastin turned and charged him again, so he turned and fled; he saw a woman on her porch and asked her to call police.
He told police the doctor said the blade had penetrated into his back four inches.
Eastin told police he noticed the victim driving 15 mph and “swerving all over the place” in the 100 block of North Main Street. He denied honking numerous times, but later admitted he did. He claimed the victim was the instigator of the fight and told him he’d follow him wherever he went. When he noticed the victim behind him near his residence, he pulled over, he said. He told police that he didn’t know if the victim had a weapon, but that he acted out of self-defense and fear for his life.
Eastin was charged in December for felony vehicle operator/flee elude officer and felony second degree recklessly endangering safety after he crashed on Memorial Day near Subway on Paulson Road. In the crash, Eastin was thrown from the vehicle, which erupted into flames.
His next Pierce County Circuit Court appearance is a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 6.