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COON RAPIDS, MN (October 6, 2026).
A Ramsey man whose arrest MinneapoliMedia reported Sunday is now formally charged with three felonies after prosecutors detailed allegations that he targeted two teenage girls in separate Anoka County communities on the same day.
Oliver Joseph Butcher, 20, is charged with attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct, attempted kidnapping and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the September 28 incidents in Ramsey and Coon Rapids.
The criminal complaint provides substantially more information than authorities had released when Butcher's arrest was announced, turning what had been an active investigation into a criminal prosecution.
According to the complaint, the first encounter occurred at approximately 2 p.m. in Ramsey. A 15-year-old girl told police she was walking near Alpine Drive Northwest and Vicuna Street Northwest when a man driving a black Dodge SUV approached and asked for directions to Walmart.
After the girl provided directions and continued walking, prosecutors allege the driver parked, got out and followed her. She began running.
The complaint alleges the man caught the girl, grabbed her from behind in a bear hug and began carrying her. She fought back and escaped after he dropped her. The man then returned to the vehicle and drove away.
Approximately eight hours later, Coon Rapids police responded to another report involving a teenage girl.
A 17-year-old told investigators she was walking home from a gas station when a man driving a black Dodge SUV approached her and offered money for sexual acts. She refused and told him she was a minor.
Prosecutors allege the man got out of the SUV, threatened that he had a gun and chased her when she ran. The complaint alleges he caught her, pushed her to the ground, placed her in a headlock, ordered her to turn off her cellphone and sexually assaulted her before leaving.
Investigators connected the cases through surveillance video, automated license-plate reader information, vehicle records and location data. Authorities identified a black Dodge Durango allegedly associated with Butcher and obtained search warrants.
Prosecutors say location evidence placed both the Durango and Butcher's cellphone near the two crime scenes at the relevant times.
Ramsey police stopped Butcher while he was driving the Durango at approximately 3:30 a.m. October 1.
According to the complaint, Butcher subsequently acknowledged chasing both teenagers and made statements to investigators concerning his intentions. Those statements are allegations contained in the charging document and will be subject to the criminal-court process.
Butcher appeared in court Monday. A judge set bail at $2 million without conditions, and he remained in the Anoka County Jail.
The filing represents a material development from Sunday's report. At that time, authorities had announced an arrest but had not publicly detailed the charges, the investigative evidence or the allegations contained in the criminal complaint.
Butcher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The identities of the teenage girls are being withheld because they are minors and alleged victims of sexual violence.

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