Man on Probation Accused of Burglarizing Rochester Apartment

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Minnesota man on probation is accused of burglarizing an occupied Rochester apartment. 

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The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday, says Rochester Police responded to the report of a burglary on Feb. 3. It was reported to have occurred at an apartment in the 1400 block of 1st Ave. Northeast. 

The resident told police he had a stint in the hospital and had let a man he had known for a short time, identified as 27-year-old Lanick Knight, stay at his apartment. The resident said Knight left the apartment without any issue when he returned home from the hospital. 

Knight was not on the lease, did not have a key and was believed to not have had any property in the apartment, the complaint says. The victim said Knight returned to the apartment, knocked on the door and asked to come in to retrieve a bag he said he left behind. 

The tennant said he told Knight he did not leave a bag behind. Knight then kicked down the apartment’s door and entered the unit, the court document states. 

The resident said he got out of the apartment when Knight entered to avoid a confrontation. Knight eventually left the apartment on a bike. He told police Knight rummaged through his belongings and damaged the apartment. 

The responding officer reported seeing the bathroom sink torn off the wall, damage to the door frame and a pair of broken glasses, according to the complaint. 

The victim told police he knew Knight to be homeless and suggested he may have gone to one of the Rochester area shelters, but officers could not find him. Officers then located and arrested Knight on Sunday. 

Knight was formally charged Monday with a count of first-degree burglary. His conditional bail was set at $5,000. 

Court records indicate the alleged burglary occurred while Knight was serving a probation sentence for a felony drug conviction out of the Twin Cities. 

Knight has an active arrest warrant for an alleged probation violation in that case. He’s due back in court for the Rochester case later this month.

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