Rifle Allegedly Brandished During Rochester Domestic Incident
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man is expected to face felony assault and terroristic threats charge for allegedly brandishing a rifle during a domestic incident early today. Police Captain John Sherwin says officers were sent to a home in the 1300 block of Gage Court Northwest around 1 am after a 37-year-old woman called 911 from her car after she managed to flee from the residence with two children.
The woman told officers she had picked up Jason Finstad from his job on Thursday and notice he had already been drinking. Police reports indicate she said the 36-year-old Rochester man ordered her to make a stop at a liquor store and he then continued drinking after they arrived at their home.
Sherwin says, at some point in the night, the intoxicated man grabbed a loaded .22 caliber rifle and kicked in the door to the bedroom door of an 11-year-old boy and announced he wished to have a talk. The woman told officers she, along with the 11-year-old and a 14-year-old boy, managed to flee from the home after Finstad started talking to himself and then wandered into the basement.
When police arrived, they found the highly intoxicated man in the backyard of the home burning some items. Captain Sherwin says the police report also notes the 14-year-old boy was in his bedroom during much of the incident holding his own loaded shotgun. He told police he was prepared to use the gun if Finstad tried to harm his mother.