APPLE VALLEY, Minn., Aug. 24 (Nationwide Times) — Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, of Brainerd, Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of his coworker, Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26, of Royalton, according to a Dakota County criminal complaint and information from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
The charge involves a fatal incident at a tree-trimming job in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on Aug. 20, 2026. The allegations have not been proven in court.
What happened at the worksite?
The complaint says Crimmins was operating a truck-mounted boom and hydraulic grapple while Lynch worked on the ground, picking up or clearing branches. The grapple is a mechanical attachment used to grab and move materials such as tree limbs.
According to the complaint, the men began using the grapple’s shadow and Lynch’s shadow as part of horseplay. Crimmins allegedly moved the equipment while watching the shadows instead of the grapple and Lynch himself. The complaint says he then opened and closed the grapple, striking or pinching Lynch’s head.
A witness told investigators that the grapple came toward Lynch and appeared to hit or pinch his head, according to the complaint.
The incident happened at about 7 p.m. Apple Valley police found Lynch on the ground with severe head trauma and blood around him, the complaint says. Officers also saw blood on the hydraulic grapple, which was positioned directly above Lynch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The complaint says the men had arrived in Apple Valley after working earlier in Plymouth.
What is Crimmins accused of?
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office alleges that Crimmins created an unreasonable risk through culpable negligence. In Minnesota, second-degree manslaughter is a criminal charge involving a death that prosecutors allege resulted from reckless or negligent conduct. The charge itself is not a finding that Crimmins is guilty.
The complaint also describes Crimmins as saying he and Lynch had been “f–king around,” according to accounts of the document. It says Crimmins told investigators he was not aware of any mechanical problems with the equipment. That statement does not establish whether the grapple had any defect, and the available records do not provide an independent equipment inspection finding.
The identity of the tree-trimming company that employed the men has not been provided in the available charging information.
What happens next?
Crimmins was arrested and held at the Dakota County Jail. Bail was set at $40,000 without conditions or $20,000 with conditions, according to jail and court information cited by authorities.
He was scheduled to return to court Sept. 10 for an omnibus hearing, a proceeding that can address issues such as evidence, motions and the next steps in a criminal case.
The available reports do not identify a defense attorney or include a plea or response from Crimmins or his family. They also do not provide a case number, assigned judge or medical examiner’s findings.
The case remains an allegation-based prosecution. Prosecutors must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
