Charges: Homeless Man Urinated in Rochester Grocery Store, Threatened to Kill Mother & Children

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is facing felony charges for an incident reported at a local grocery store earlier this week. 

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Rochester police responded to the unnamed store in southwest Rochester around 4 p.m. on Sunday. Charges were filed in the case on Tuesday.

A manager at the store told police a man had urinated in the store and threatened to shoot and kill others, including children, the complaint says. 

Rochester Man Accused of Urinating in Grocery Store, Threatening to Kill Customers

Police spoke with a shopper who said he entered the store and went to grab a small cart when he heard the sound of a stream.

He turned around and saw the suspect urinating on the floor, the complaint says. 

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The man said to officers that he told the suspect to get out of the store and that the suspect threatened to kill him, stating he would be waiting for him outside of the store, according to the court document. 

Mother and Children Threatened Outside of Rochester Grocery Store

Police also spoke with a woman who said she was loading her three children, described as ages seven, five and two, into a van when the suspect walked by them with a bicycle. 

She said the suspect stated "You better watch out,” and that he threatened to shoot them and said he was going to go to a school and “shoot people cause I don't get help," the complaint says. 

Responding officers located the suspect at a nearby liquor store. Police identified the man as 60-year-old Steven Joseph Drahos. 

Rochester Grocery Store Threats Suspect Arrested at Nearby Liquor Store

The complaint says Drahos admitted to “urinating somewhere other than a toilet or urinal” but denied threatening anyone, according to the court document. 

A manager at the liquor store told police Drahos came into the store, grabbed a can of liquor and told a woman shopping there “you don’t want to die,” the charges say.  

Officers found Drahos, who is described in the complaint as homeless, in possession of three counterfeit $100 bills, a Macy’s card with another person’s name and drug paraphernalia that field tested positive for methamphetamine, the court document says.  

Suspect Out on Bail for Burglary of Rochester Muslim Community Center

The incident came after Drahos was released without bail earlier this month in a burglary case involving a local Muslim community center. 

He and another man are accused of stealing $600-$700 out of a donation box, according to the criminal complaint in that case. 

Read More: Two Men Accused of Stealing Donations During Rochester Muslim Center Burglary 

Drahos is charged with two counts of felony threats and misdemeanor identity theft.

His conditional bail was set at $10,000 following his first court appearance on Tuesday and he’s due back in court next month.