3-26-2010 Minnesota:The man who suffered a fatal fall Wednesday at Mall of America faced a third-degree rape charge, according to news reports.
The man was identified Thursday as Dakota Rey Kohler-Lander, 21, of Schenectady, N.Y.
Kohler-Lander was scheduled to be arraigned on the rape charge in New York State on Wednesday, but missed his court date, KSTP-News reported. He had been arrested in October on suspicion of having sex with a 16-year-old girl, the station said.
Bloomington police said Thursday that Kohler-Lander appeared to have been in town visiting someone.
About 7 p.m. Wednesday, security officers responded to a report by mall visitors that Kohler-Lander had a knife, police said. As security approached, he climbed a fourth-floor railing and either jumped or fell to the rotunda bellow.
Police said there were several witnesses to the incident.
Kohler-Lander died shortly after at the Hennepin County Medical center, police said.
The manner of his death is still under investigation. ..Source.. by Pioneer Press
Man who fell at Mall of America faced rape charge
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- A man who fell to his death in the Mall of America Rotunda was scheduled to face a rape charge in a New York court on the day of his death.
Authorities say 21-year-old Dakota Rey Kohler-Lander of Schenectady, N.Y., was on the fourth floor of the Mall of America Wednesday with a knife. When officers approached him, he climbed over a railing and fell to the ground floor. He died of blunt force injuries.
The Star Tribune reports Kohler-Lander was arrested last October and charged with rape for allegedly having consensual sex with a 16-year-old girl. Officials say he was indicted by an Albany County grand jury last week and was scheduled to appear in court, but didn't show.
Local news reports also say Kohler-Lander's twin 17-year-old brothers died in an all terrain vehicle crash in June.
Mall officials say officers attempted to perform CPR on Kohler-Lander. Officials say he was breathing and had a faint pulse when paramedics took him to HCMC. He died there a short time later.
Bloomington police say the Mall of America may have to look into taking greater security measures.
Officer Mike Stehlik says that the Hennepin County Medical Examiner is still trying to determine whether or not the fall of Kohler-Lander was intentional, or forced by another individual. Stehlik says despite steady traffic at the mall, there are surprisingly very few witnesses in this incident. ..Source.. by KARE11.com
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