Woman in critical condition after metal pole assault at St. Paul shelter

A woman was assaulted by a man with a metal pole at a homeless shelter in St. Paul is in critical condition, police say.

Officers were called to Higher Ground Shelter on the 400 block of Dorothy Day Place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and arrived to find the woman suffering from an a wound on her head caused by a a"metal pole type of an object."

Despite being conscious and breathing, she was not able to describe what happened.

St Paul Fire medics took her to United Hospital, where she fell unconscious, showing signs of a more serious head injury. She was then transferred to Regions Hospital where she remains in critical condition.

Witnesses at Higher Ground told officers they saw a man strike her in the back of the head with a metal pole. He fled the scene on foot, but other witnesses were able to follow him and direct officers to where he was.

He was arrested at Kellogg Blvd and Washington Street. and booked into the  Ramsey County jail for aggravated assault.

The assault remains under active investigation, and the name of the victim has not been released by police.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.