Park Rapids man Dies After Alexandria Park Fight

A Park Rapids man has died in a fight at Legion Park in Alexandria this Memorial Day weekend.

Police identified the man as 31-year-old Jeffrey Preston. Authorities say they responded to a call of a “fight with a man down and seizing” at around 12:45 a.m. Sunday.

Preston was taken to the Douglas County Emergency Room where he was later pronounced dead.

WCCO reports witnesses say Preston approached a group of people, began yelling and started throwing punches at a man at the scene. Authorities say 19-year-old Kenneth Diaz of Alexandria repeatedly told Preston to leave and walked backwards to avoid the altercation.

KARE11 reports witnesses say Preston threw the first punch before getting hit once in the face. Preston then fell to the ground.

Diaz was taken to the Douglas County Jail, where he was questioned and released pending further investigation.

Any other witnesses are asked to call Alexandria Police Department at 320-763-6631.