Wanted Rochester Felon Charged in Gun Threat Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A wanted felon from Rochester is facing new charges connected to an armed threat complaint reported in Rochester over the weekend. 

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The Rochester Police Department responded to a past action threats call around 2:30 Sunday morning. A woman told officers she took the keys and abandoned her vehicle after a man known to her threatened her with a firearm when she refused to give him a ride to the Twin Cities while the two were riding in her vehicle. 

The criminal complaint says officers found the vehicle in the 800 block of 17th Ave. Southeast with the suspect still inside. Officers then conducted a high-risk traffic stop and reported 22-year-old Divaunte Young eventually followed commands to exit the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. 

Officers searched the vehicle and found a satchel that contained a loaded 9mm Taurus G2c firearm and Young’s ID. The charges say Young also had a folded piece of cardboard in his pocket that contained .4 grams of suspected cocaine. 

Young was charged earlier this week with felony terroristic threats, felony firearm possession and felony drug possession.  Court records indicate Young has a criminal record in Olmsted County that dates back to 2019 and incluses felony convictions of assault of a corrections officer, robbery and burglary with a dangerous weapon. Those felony convictions prohibit him from possessing a firearm. 

Court documents say Young also had an active felony arrest warrant. The judge in the case set his bail at $200,000. His next court appearance is set for March 29.