Murder charges filed against man who pushed another into path of moving car

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office filed murder charges Friday against a 41-year-old Little Canada man accused of pushing his victim in front of a moving car on Wednesday.

According to the charges, Michael John Merten III and Robert Hilgren got into a shouting match in the middle of Rice Street near County Road B2 in Little Canada. Police say the confrontation started after Hilgren saw Merten trying to fight with his 23-year-old son and apparently intervened on his son's behalf.

The complaint says Merten shoved Hilgren at least three times before pushing him into the path of an oncoming car.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the driver of the car that struck and killed Hilgren was traveling at the appropriate speed and the driver applied his brakes and swerved before impact.

Prosecutors charged Merten with one count of second-degree murder.