Mower County Man Suspected of Stabbing Rochester Teenager

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Mower County man, suspected of stabbing a 15-year-old Rochester boy during a physical altercation last night, has been released from custody pending further investigation.

Rochester Police Captain Casey Moilanen says 23-year-old Benjamin Patter of Waltham surrendered to police after he allegedly pulled out a pocketknife during an altercation with a 15-year-old boy and stabbed him in the neck and leg. The police report on the incident says the teenager was transported to a hospital by a family member to be treated for non-life-threatening wounds.

Moilenan says the 15-year-old boy is dating a 14-year-old girl who considered Patter to be a "father figure." He says Patter became upset when the boy sent the girl a photo and responded by going to the home of the 15-year-old boy with the intention to fight him.

Captain Moilenan says witnesses to the incident were unsure who started the physical altercation but they did see Patter arm himself with a knife and use it to injure the teenage boy.