On February 3, 2026, at approximately 11:59 A.M., Cottage Grove Police Officers responded to the Cottage Grove Elementary school in Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota on a report of a person, identified as Touyer Yang, [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, was locked in the vestibule carrying a large butcher knife. Defendant was subsequently arrested and placed in a squad car. There was a black pickup truck in the parking that appeared to be how Defendant got to the school. Officers were able to speak with principal and four employees that were present, all known adults.
Employee #1 said was in the office, when Employee #2 walked into the building and knocked on the office door to get into the office, which she normally doesn't do. Employee #2 said there was a black pickup truck driving erratically around the parking lot. As these employees were talking, Defendant parked his truck and exited. Defendant walked into the vestibule and has a knife in his hand. Defendant was waiving the knife around and yelling. Employees said they could hear the yelling, but did not know what was being said.
Employee #2 said she saw Defendant driving in the parking lot and watched him pull the pickup truck down a row of parked cards and run over a traffic cone. Employee #2 said Defendant then pick up his phone and started taking pictures of her, so she walked faster into the building. Employee #3 said she saw Defendant banging on the vestibule doors and windows with a knife in his hand. Employee #3 said there were several children in the common area just beyond the doors. Employee #3 shuffled 5 children into her room and another employee started screaming and shuffled the rest of the children to another part of the building.
Employee #3 said that several children saw Defendant with the knife and were very afraid. Employee #3 said that she was also afraid. After Defendant's arrest, there were multiple marks on the doors and windows on all four doors from where Defendant had struck them with his knife. It is estimated the cost of repair exceeds $1,000. An inventory search of Defendant's pickup truck was conducted. The truck had been parked running in front of the school and there was a traffic cone stuck underneath truck.
Also, three additional large knives were in the driver's door pocket. There was also a large kitchen knife in the passenger's door pocket. Six knives were recovered from the truck and Defendant brought an additional knife into the school. Based on Defendant's behavior and the driving conduct, Officer asked him to submit to submit to standard field sobriety testing one he arrived at the police department. Defendant said he had no problems with his eyes but did have a left eye contusion. Defendant said it from a recent fall on ice.
Defendant's eyes were bloodshot, watery and glossy. Officer could smell a strong odor of consumed alcoholic beverage coming from Defendant. Officer explained the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. Officer observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. Defendant was also swaying while taking this test. 3 82-CR-26-520 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 2/5/2026 Defendant declined to submit to a PBT. Defendant was then read the breath test advisory.
