Forced Entry: Wood-Wielding Man Charged in Rochester Burglary

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is facing burglary and assault charges following an incident that occurred over the weekend in southeast Rochester. 

See Also: Jewelry, Vehicle Among Items Stolen in Rochester Smash and Grab Home Burglary

Charges detailing the alleged burglary were filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday. Rochester Police arrested the suspect at his home after responding to the burglarized residence. 

The homeowner and a resident were at the home at the time of the burglary. The resident suffered minor injuries, the charges say. 

Rochester Man Armed With Wooden Stick Charged in Burglary

Rochester Police responded to the reported burglary at a home on 11th Ave. Southeast around 10:20 Saturday morning. The tennant said he heard a pounding on the home’s door and identified the person knocking as 41-year-old Mario Lamar Jones, the complaint says. 

The victim reported opening the door and Jones attempting to force his way inside while he was yelling about a phone. The victim said he tried to close the door but Jones prevented him from doing so by putting his foot in the doorway, the charges say. 

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Jones then began striking the victim repeatedly with a wooden stick during the confrontation. The charging document says the homeowner, who was also present at the time of the alleged burglary, also attempted to push the door shut and force the wooden stick out of Jones’s hand. 

The two were able to get the door shut. Jones then used the wooden stick to pound on the door and broke a half-moon window, the court document alleges.

Police later arrested Jones at his southeast Rochester residence. 

He told police he went to the property to retrieve a stolen cell phone. He admitted to getting into a scuffle at the residence and smashing the half-moon window with a wooden object he took from the victim. 

Jones was taken to the Olmsted County Jail where police found a small plastic baggie containing suspected cocaine that weighed out to 0.6 grams.

Jones has been charged with a count of felony first-degree burglary, felony fifth-degree drug possession, misdemeanor fifth-degree assault and misdemeanor fourth-degree property damage. 

He was released without bail but with conditions. Court records indicate Jones has a criminal history that dates back to 2004 that includes felony drug convictions. 

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