Landscaper Threatened with Gun, Rochester Man Charged

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is facing felony charges for allegedly threatening a landscaper with a gun. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Thursday. 

The case began on Tuesday, when the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a weapons violation in northwest Rochester. The investigation involved the execution of a search warrant.

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Rochester Man Facing Felony Charges for Threatening Landscaper With a Gun

31-year-old Kyndle Richard Bennett is charged with second-degree assault and terroristic threats. 

The court document says Bennett was in a dispute with the landscaper over the completion of a job in late August at Bennett’s home. After multiple weeks of calling and texting Bennett, the landscaper went to Bennett’s home on Tuesday and the two sat down at a table in the basement. 

The landscaper told deputies that Bennett presented him with an agreement and demanded he sign it without reading it. When the landscaper refused to sign, Bennett then produced a handgun from under his shirt and pointed it at the landscaper, the charges allege. 

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The complaint also lists threatening statements Bennett is accused of making towards the landscaper. The statements listed are "we know where you live and where your school address is," "we're going to find you," "you're messing with the wrong guy." 

The victim left Bennett’s home without signing the agreement. A deputy later conducted a traffic stop on Bennett and did not find any firearms in the vehicle, the complaint says. 

In a statement to law enforcement Bennett confirmed being in a dispute with the landscaper and said the victim was in his home. He said there were firearms in his home and quit talking to investigators after being asked about threatening the landscaper, the complaint says. 

A subsequent search of Bennett’s home led to the discovery of the agreement, a pistol holster and a Glock 23 equipped with night sights, according to the court document.

 Bennett was released without bail following his first court appearance on Thursday. He’s due back in court early next year.