Huron Man Charged with Attempted Murder in Beating of Roommate

A Huron man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a brutal beating that left his former roommate hospitalized.

Sgt Casey Spinsby with the Huron Police Department says Robert Erdman called officers at around 9:57pm Wed. night after his former roommate Earl LaRoche Jr. refused to leave his apartment on Dakota Avenue North. LaRouche appeared to be intoxicated.

At around 11:08pm an off duty police dispatcher was traveling in the area and saw LaRoche on foot in the vicinity of the apartment building.

Erdman appeared to have been struck several times in the face. He was transported to Huron Regional Medical Center for treatment and later transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital.

LaRoche refused to cooperate when officers attempted to take him into custody and a Taser was deployed. He has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Burglary and Attempted Murder. Spinsby says the incident rises to the level of attempted murder due to the severity of the assault.

Authorities do not believe a weapon was used in the assault.