Prison Sentence in Rochester School Gasoline Incident
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Elgin man has been given a prison sentence for an incident last fall that resulted in a large police presence at a Rochester elementary school.
Police Responded to Report of Man Pouring Gasoline on Himself
Rochester police responded to Ben Franklin Elementary School on the afternoon of November 18 after receiving a report of a man pouring gasoline on himself and holding a lighter on the school grounds. The first officer to arrive at the scene reported seeing Skelly near the school's bus line holding a red plastic gasoline can.
The man, later identified as 42-year-old Jesse Skelly, was charged with felony third-degree drug possession in a school zone and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Details of the Police Response
According to the criminal complaint, Rochester police observed Skelly pouring a clear liquid from the container onto his chest and body before he discarded the gas can and took out a cigarette lighter. Officers ordered him to drop the lighter, but he refused.
The court document says officers then fired a 40 mm less-than-lethal impact round at Skelly. It missed but caused Skelly to go to the ground, where he was subdued and placed in handcuffs.
Methamphetamine and Firecrackers
In addition to the lighter, the criminal complaint says officers found a gram of methamphetamine and firecrackers in Skelly's possession.
A statement from the Rochester Police Department says officers also used fire extinguishers and a fire blanket out of an abundance of caution, although no fire was reported.
Conviction and Sentence
Skelly was convicted of both charges during a trial held in February. He was sentenced today to 39 months in prison, with credit for the 134 days he has been in jail since his arrest.
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