Rochester Man Admits to Long List of Felony Crimes

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man is scheduled to be sentenced next month for an armed robbery last summer and several other crimes.

31-year-old Andrew Gustafson recently entered guilty pleas to a list of felony charges involving crimes committed over the past two years. They include second-degree aggravated robbery, burglary, criminal vehicular operation, fleeing police, and a drug offense.

The aggravated robbery conviction stems from an incident in July 2020 during which Gustafson was accused of brandishing a handgun while participating in a robbery at a home in southeast Rochester. The fleeing police charge stems from a high-speed chase that occurred last May that resulted in a massive search effort that included a State Patrol helicopter after he ditched his vehicle and ran into a wooded area of rural southwest Rochester.

The criminal vehicular operation count was filed against Gustafson last December after he caused a crash by driving through a red light while trying to elude police in southeast Rochester. Following the incident, police reported that one of the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the crash was taken to the hospital with possible rib and leg fractures.

Gustafson was also taken to the hospital with injuries but fled in his hospital down while the arresting officer was working to obtain a warrant to take a sample of his blood for a blood-alcohol-concentration test. The police report says he was rearrested inside the Generose Parking Ramp at the St. Marys Hospital complex.

According to court records, state sentencing guidelines call for a presumptive 19-month prison sentence based on his convictions. The documents also indicated the prosecution and defense have agreed to ask the court for a stay of execution, which would likely result in a probationary sentence for Gustafson. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11.