The story of how Anthony John Ellis allegedly used a box cutter on the face of a guy who jumped to the aid of a female being beaten at a neighborhood bar...
That story wasn't big enough to make the pages of the Star Tribune. Go figure.
Luckily, the Pioneer Press picked up some of the slack, click here. And, of course, it's often the role of this blog to pick up the trail of bread crumbs left by the mainstream media and dig deeper into the story...
First of all, the "bar on the 4100 block of Fremont Avenue North" appears to be the T Shoppe Bar at 4154 Fremont Ave. N. There is no other bar on Fremont Ave. North which appears in a Google search, let alone another bar that HAPPENS to be on the 4100 block. According to a review on Yelp Dot Com, the bar is "shabby looking" and gives off a "scary vibe" from the outside, but the lone reviewer went inside and found the place friendly and enjoyed his visit.
Obviously, he wasn't there the night Anthony John Ellis beat on a woman and then took a box cutter to a guy's face.
As for Anthony John Ellis, whose favored weapon is the same as that of the 9/11 hijackers, here's his rap sheet.
27-CR-89-072809 ELLIS, ANTHONY JOHN 03/16/1963 12/01/1989 Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale Crim/Traf Mandatory Closed ASSAULT IN THE 5TH DEGREE ASSAULT IN THE 5TH DEGREE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
He was only convicted of one count of assault in the 5th Degree, the other charges were dismissed. He had 90 days hanging over his head. All stayed. Violated probation over and over.
27-CR-92-069336 ELLIS, ANTHONY JOHN 03/16/1963 09/04/1992 Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown Crim/Traf Mandatory Under Court Jurisdiction DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CARELESS DRIVING
Only convicted of driving under the influence. The other charge was dismissed. He was on probation for 2 years and got treatment in the Anoka 2 day program.
27-CR-92-081233 ELLIS, ANTHONY JOHN 03/16/1963 10/19/1992 Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Southdale Crim/Traf Mandatory Closed DRIVING AFTER REVOCATION DRIVING W/O INSURANCE
Convicted of driving after revocation, the other charge was dismissed. Though you have to wonder how that makes any sense. I mean, seriously, the guy didn't have a driver's license but he had insurance? Smells like a plea bargain to me.
In any case, he was fined a total of $174.50.
02-K1-93-012752 ELLIS, ANTHONY JOHN 03/16/1963 11/15/1993 Anoka Gross Misd - DWI Converted Closed GM AGG DWI GM DWI 2/5 GM REFUSE TEST M OPR AFT WITHDRAWAL M NO PRF OF INS-OWNER AGG DWI/VIOL HRG GM AGG DWI/PROB VIOL
What a list of charges. But he was only convicted (on a plea) of GM AGG DWI. It appears he did some time in jail (it's a real mess to figure out what happened on MNCIS, there's so many notations) and got work release. It took him a while to pay his fines and there was an "unpaid fines hearing." (First time I've seen that, actually) Looks like this foolishness cost him a total of $715, which he paid in 4 installments. Also, apparently he received 2 years probation.
27-CR-97-061146 ELLIS, ANTHONY JOHN 03/16/1963 07/17/1997 Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown Crim/Traf Mandatory Closed HARASSING PHONE CALLS
Guilty. Got 30 days but it was all stayed. Conditions included not having contact with victims.
That last conviction on MNCIS was in 1997. So riddle me this. How does a guy stay out of trouble for 15 years and then go after some dude's face with a box cutter? Two possible answers.
First, maybe he lived somewhere else and was doing the same stuff he did before, just in another state so it doesn't show up in MNCIS.
Second, maybe he stayed out of trouble all that time. Only the love of a good woman could accomplish something like that, I say. And then...
Well, beating some girl in a bar. A guy interferes. Out comes the box cutter.
All of this allegedly.
I'm trying to get a copy of the criminal complaint. We'll see if it contains more clues.
In the meantime, I will add that "shabby" bars that give off a "bad vibe" tend to encourage an atmosphere of "anything goes." Bars in North Minneapolis who are in that category should think hard about cleaning up their act.
When did the box cutting happen?
ReplyDeleteThe word "allegedly" was added to the headline. It was already in the body of the story.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the odds that Ellis DID NOT DO THIS and it's merely an unfounded allegation are about 999 to 1, but whatever.
The link to the Pioneer Press leads to a story with this sentence.
ReplyDelete"The attack happened at a bar on the 4100 block of Fremont Avenue North in the Webber-Camden neighborhood of north Minneapolis on Sept. 29."
How right you are. They spelled out "Avenue" and "North" instead of abbreviating it. So my sentence quoting from their article should do the same.
ReplyDeleteI have corrected accordingly.
I think the comment that quotes the leading sentence is answering the question of when it happened, not trying to get you to make a correction.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct 4:00 pm. A sentence which referred to clicking and reading the provided links BEFORE asking questions that would have been answered made that clear. I decided it was unnecessary to repeat that bit of internet wisdom, and deleted it before posting.
ReplyDeleteShabby bar? You are beginning to come off as some moron who thinks that because some fool pulls out a boxcutter, instead of a 3oo dollar knife, that it makes it shabby. Was the man wielding the box cutter wearing dress shoes or tennis shoes? That is where the serious proof LIES.
ReplyDeleteYour story is one sided and not what truly happened. Although I was not there that evening, I was there the next day and I talked to several eyewitnesses. Anthony was choked in the bar and told he would kill him by the so called victim. The women in question pursued Anthony and punched him in the face. The so called victims were not inocent by any means. I am not condoning what Anthony did but this was a fight which should not have occured. All are guilty of being drunk and stupid.
ReplyDeleteMy question to you sir is have you talked to the victims since you "know" them?Or are these just a bunch of facts that you got from a bunch of drunks? I mean theres always 2 sides to every story and you seem to only know one side....
DeleteSo you say.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you really need to learn how to manage your pronouns. "Told he would kill him"? How can anybody know what's going on in your sentence?
Instead of worrying about about my grammer and spelling, you should talk to the people who were there. Find out what really happened. I know all the people involved. It was the bartender who heard the "victim" say " I am going to kill you" as he was choking Anthony. At least 2 others heard the same. I assume you know the victim and his position, as do I.
ReplyDeleteWhile bein' fucked by Roy Rogers, do you think Dale Evans ever yelled giddyup and wondered if she was using it in the proper context? Do you think Anthony was wondering if he cut this guy, who was beating the hell out of him,it would make it to your blog and he would be accused of hangin out at a shabby bar? At least Dale did not make the mistake of saying"Hi- Yo,Silver",and if someone is attacking you, it's time to slice and dice or blast his beanie off of his melon.Good Day.
ReplyDeleteI will tell you that you need to quit blogging if you cannot tell the truth. It is a matter of time before the scales balance.
ReplyDeleteAnthony is the victim, get the whole story johnny. He had been being harrassed by the "victim" for the last six months, and anthony was jumped and had his teeth broken by the "victims" best friend not long ago. The have been fucking with him for awhile. Two woman and another on probation and the "victim" broke his rib, anthony was only defending himself.
ReplyDeleteOK soooooo how can you "defend" yourself once your so called "attacker" is already down and on the ground!!! These people really piss me off! Tony was the one in the wrong Olson was sitting outside and all of a sudden Ellis starting talking shit, Jon simply went to talk to Tony and then the fight started. Jon was trying to help the female while Ellis was trying to cut her and as Jon got in the middle, he got his face sliced up and was on the ground with Tony on top of him, I dont believe it is "defending" yourself once you get on top of someone and continuously cut them. If Ellis was scared he should have got into his van right then while Jon was on the ground. And Castleman (however it is spelled)aka dc shut the hell up because nobody was an EYEWITNESS except for the people outside when it happened so check your story, and stop believing all of the losers who hang out at the T-Shoppe.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I enjoy your blog, it is entertaining :-)
Hmmm....are you one of those losers hanging out at the t shoppe? Must be since you have all the information...
DeleteWhy didn't Jon just let Anthony leave while talking shit? I wish he would've, then none of this would have happened. EGO! Now, what a mess.
DeleteIf Olson is such an outstanding guy, then why was he hanging out with such losers at such a scum bar?
Deletecan you believe the article in the paper today, they are profiling John olsen as a hero ! Lies will catch up with you! Come forward witness and put this bully olsen in his place.!!!
ReplyDeleteThat will be the job of a judge and or jury.
ReplyDeleteWow, there is a witness that will be in court, jon was choking tony in the bar that was witnessed by several. Sarah punched tony in the face first, olsen came to the bar after the girls called him. If he would have kept his nose out of it, it would have not got cut! Hes not as tough as he thought, maybe jon will learn not to be so nosey in everyones business.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody realize tony is 140lbs and 5'5", Jon was have his ego wound that he got his ass wooped by a guy half his size. What would you do if you have two guys and two very large woman that look like men beating you on the ground. Tony may have confused they two woman as men, i know i have. Jon is wrong, he is spinning this for political gain and his best buddy is a well known liar at that bar, if you got laid as much as he said he does you would be a porn star. His word means nothing and you really dont want to have him talk to you because his breath alone could have kicked everones ass out there that night.
ReplyDeleteWitnesses have already come forward!!!!! At least the ones who actually saw what happened! I can't wait to see what happens to Tony and Jon is a damn hero, if he wouldn't have jumped in who knows what could have happened to the female victim!
ReplyDeleteYou people are ignorant, the only losers i know there are the jons aka "the massingill twins" One thing nice about not having them in there anymore is we dont have to listen to them hate on the gays anymore.
ReplyDeleteIts nice not having to listen to both johns aka " the masingill twins" hate on the gays anymore, smug pricks stay at haleks you two losers.
ReplyDeleteIts nice not having the johns around badmouthing the gays.
ReplyDeleteJon a hero? Get a life, its nice not having him around the bar badmouthing the gay customers with his best big bully buddy that has a man crush on jon. No wander they got the nickname "the masingill twins" they make me ill.
ReplyDeleteThe Jons suck! Are they gay? They look gay. Nah, the gays would not want anything to do with them.
ReplyDeleteAt least the Jons have each other.
ReplyDeleteAt least I was man enough to post my initials when I leave a comment. I am sure the Anonymous who uses my last name in his post is John S. Why can you say stuff but not say who you are?
ReplyDeleteFirst, Russ Rotzien, if you were the bartender who was on duty that night as you said in an anonymous comment then email me and give me some way of verifying what you are saying.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I have made it clear on the other blog post comment thread that I will no longer print the comments of trolls who keep citing facts that sound like made up bullshit. That goes for this thread, too.
I was searching for information about this case and came across this blog. I have known Tony 30 yrs this march. He's my father. He's been siding houses for 20+ yrs in Minneapolis, hence the box cutter. He is an alcoholic and a workaholic, never been a drug user or woman beater. He runs his mouth and talks shit but at the level of intoxication he likes to reach, he can be pretty passive. One thing I can say about him is he is a very honest person. He's always worked hard and earned his own way. I can't say why he hangs with the crowd of ppl he does but he is one of those guys that helps other ppl all the time, giving ppl jobs, letting ppl shack up with him, etc... I'm sure at one time he employed the "victim" & I can be pretty sure that one of the "victims" was his on again off again girlfriend of 10 yrs Marienne who has indeed had Tony jumped and set up in the past. She sells her body on the streets and when she's all used up she calls Tony for a place to lay her head, smoke and drink up as much money as she can until she can't stand his shit talking & then call another boyfriend to pick her up. Again, I don't know why he hangs with these people or these places but he has been a Minneapolis resident his whole life and has sided damn near every house. Tony isn't perfect but he's not malicious. I definitely wouldn't classify him as a criminal. He hurts himself a lot but he's not know for hurting others.
ReplyDeleteThey should all be puniished equally or not at all.
ReplyDelete