Mankato Man Charged in River Hills Mall Incident

A Mankato man was charged with six offenses, including Robbery and Assault, as a result of an incident that occurred at River Hills Mall on January 31st. Jason Tyler Dulitz of Mankato was charged last Monday with the following counts:

Simple Robbery, a Felony with a Maximum Sentence of 10 years or a $20,000 or both.

2nd Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, a Felony with a Maximum Sentence of 7 years or a $14,000 fine or both. 

2nd Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, a Felony with a Maximum Sentence of 7 years or a $14,000 fine or both.

Harassment – Using a dangerous weapon, a Felony with a Maximum Sentence of 5 years and/or a $10,000

Harassment, a Gross Misdemeanor with a Maximum Sentence of 364 days or a $3,000 fine, or both.

5th Degree Assault, a Misdemeanor with a Maximum Sentence of 90 days or a $1,000 fine, or both.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Friday, January 31, 2025, at 8:06 p.m., multiple officers of the Mankato Department of Public Safety were dispatched to River Hills Mall to investigate a disturbance and possible assault. Multiple 911 calls reported a male was chasing people with a metal tool in his hand.

Officers arrived at the scene and located the suspect in a common area where a security officer was trying to deescalate a male that appeared to be holding a pipe. There were people in the area that were in potential danger. The officer pulled his taser at the suspect and ordered him to “drop the pipe.” The suspect complied and was detained. The suspect was identified as Jason Tyler Dulitz (05/13/1993). The weapon was found to be a metal flagpole winch crank handle . Dulitz admitted taking the handle from a security officer. Dulitz told officers he also had a rock in his pocket.

The investigation revealed that Dulitz was chasing people in a business within the mall when mall security was notified. Three teenage males approached mall security and reported that Dulitz was chasing them. The three males pointed out Dulitz who was sitting in a common area. Dulitz stood up and began walking back into the mall. They followed Dulitz at a distance.

Dulitz suddenly turned around and began to walk toward mall security. Dulitz was told that the mall was closed and he needed to leave. Dulitz walked up to mall security and punched one of the guards. Dulitz grabbed the crank handle out of the victim’s hand and held it over his head as if ready to strike. Dulitz pushed another security guard after they tried to intervene.