Men Accused of Beating, Attempting to Rob Pedestrian in Woodbury

Two men face attempted robbery and assault charges after they allegedly beat up a pedestrian and tried to take his cell phone during an Aug. 21 incident in Woodbury.

Nicholas Walter McDonough-Trost and Andrew Coty Paulson allegedly assaulted a man in the drive thru at Burger Kind at about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 21. McDonough-Trost is from Woodbury; Paulson is from South St. Paul. Both are 21.

According to the criminal complaints:

Police were called to Burger King on a report of three men fighting.

A witness told police the two men put the alleged victim in a headlock and took turns punching and kicking him.

Officers located the alleged victim, who said he was walking home from Rainbow Foods when two men began to taunt him. Words were exchanged and he walked away, and he was pushed from behind and beaten up.

As he was one the ground, one of the men yelled to get his cell phone. They then saw a bystander calling 911 and ran away.

Police dispatched a K-9 unit and found a jogger who said he saw two men matching the description of the suspects running along Upper Afton Road.

The police dog led authorities to a home on Hillcrest Court, where officers saw two men arguing inside.

They eventually came to the door and admitted to the trash talking and engaging in the fight. McDonough-Trost had bloody knuckles, a bloody lip and scrapes on his legs.

Both McDonough-Trost and Paulson have been charged with misdemeanor assault and felony attempted robbery.

If convicted on the counts, the men face up to 10 years in prison and $21,000 in fines.

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