A St. Cloud man has been charged with a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree assault after a weekend clash with anti-ICE protesters outside the Whipple Federal Building on Saturday.
Zak X, 36, who formally changed his last name from Stumpf to X in 2024, has been posting content online in recent weeks including protesting outside Gov. Tim Walz’s mansion in St. Paul and driving through George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, while offering social commentary.
One of the last videos posted on X’s Facebook page prior to his arrest appears to show him on the freeway on Saturday afternoon driving through Minneapolis, with the caption, “Join me in my journey into the danger.”
Video posted online from the protest at the Whipple Building captured at least part of the confrontation between X and the protesters. One protester appeared to shove a bullhorn in X’s face, who then knocked away the bullhorn. When the protester bent over to pick up the bullhorn, X appeared to swing at the protester from the side, knocking him to the ground.
Bystanders then attacked and swung at X, while the protester who was previously knocked down got up. The fight continued with punches being thrown between X and other bystanders. The protester who had originally been knocked down rejoined the fight and got knocked down again with another punch. The video appears to show X throwing punches at another combatant in the fray, who also ended up on the ground.
The charge was filed against X by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, which often only charges felony-level cases, while relegating lower charges to the city attorney’s office.
The charging document indicates that police reviewed video of the altercation, which showed X “balling his fist and delivering multiple uppercut punches to the victim in a blind-side attack.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office posted a statement online regarding the charge:
“The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Zak X, 36, with fifth-degree assault for his actions at a protest occurring at Fort Snelling on December 27.
Mr. X escalated a verbal confrontation with protestors by punching the victim in the head, causing the victim to fall to the ground. Responding deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mr. X for the assault.
‘The defendant engaged in political violence, assaulting a protestor whose views he disagreed with,’ Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. ‘This behavior has consequences, and we will hold him accountable. We are committed to protecting the right to nonviolent protest.’”
X was originally scheduled to make his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, but court and jail records show that X was released from custody on Tuesday evening after posting $3,000 bail, and his arraignment was rescheduled for Jan. 22, 2026.
The Whipple Building at Fort Snelling has been the site of several protests over the last few months, as immigration hearings are being held at the facility and federal agents are using it as a base of local operations. Some detainees have also been briefly held for questioning at the site.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
