A dentist in North Dakota accused of stabbing a man during a poker game in February 2023 in Minnesota recently had the felony assault charges against him dismissed, according to multiple news articles.
The charges of first-degree assault causing great bodily harm and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon were dismissed against Dr. Daniel Lawrence Mengedoth, 53, the owner of Mengedoth Dental in Fargo, ND. The charges were dropped at the request of the victim and his family, according to the articles.
In February 2023, authorities responded to a local hospital for a report of a man with stab wounds to his face, ear, and hand.
Two witnesses told authorities that they, along with the victim and Mengedoth, were at a hunting cabin playing cards and poker during their snowmobiling weekend. During a game, Mengedoth allegedly took out a knife and stabbed one of the men without provocation, according to the stories.
The man who was assaulted reportedly told police that Mengedoth had been sitting next to him but wasn't playing poker and looked as though he might pass out from drinking alcohol or exhaustion. Then Mengedoth raised his arm and allegedly stabbed the man. Another individual was able to get the knife away from the dentist.
The man was cut in his face and ear and had a deep cut on his hand, which sliced through his tendons and nerves. The man has nerve damage, leaving him with the inability to move his thumb and part of his mouth. The man reportedly needs surgery, according to the stories.
When Mengedoth was arrested at the cabin, he reportedly told authorities he didn't remember what happened, had been drinking all day, and didn't recall the assault but would believe it if someone told him it happened, according to the stories.
