On January 7, 2026, at 9:22 A.M., West St. Paul police officers responded to a driving complaint and assault report at a US Bank location in West St. Paul, Dakota County, MN. Dispatch advised that male, later identified as Defendant VINCENT ROBERT YAKYMI [DOB REDACTED], was driving erratically, had shoved an employee at the bank, was carrying a crowbar. When Defendant walked out to get his ID card, bank employees were advised to lock him out. When officers arrived, Defendant was in his vehicle which was between another vehicle and a curb.
An officer parked behind Defendant and turned on his emergency lights. Defendant reversed his vehicle and drove over the curb until his car was parallel with the squad. Other officers arrived and started to box Defendant’s vehicle in. Officers yelled commands for Defendant to turn off the vehicle and exit. While he was in the vehicle, Defendant turned the volume on the music up and painted his face and refused to leave the vehicle. Defendant ultimately parks parallel to a squad which blocks his driver’s door.
Defendant put his vehicle into drive and back into reverse multiple times, ramming his vehicle into the squad vehicles. Officers attempted to use Shatterballs (a glass breaking tool) to break the passenger window. Defendant eventually lowers the passenger window and an officer reaches inside and opens the door. An officer reaches over and turns off the car. Defendant would still not exit the vehicle. He held onto the steering wheel and driver’s door handle, but three officers were able to pull him from the vehicle.
Defendant was placed in cuffs and into a squad vehicle. Officers spoke with witnesses in the bank. The bank manager (“Witness 1”) stated that Defendant first came to their attention when he drove up on the sidewalk by the bank entrance. Witness 1 went outside to see where Defendant parked and saw him walking up to the bank with a large crowbar. Witness 1 told Defendant that he could not bring it inside, and he said it was his “cane.” Another employee (“Witness 2”) approached them and also told Defendant he could not bring it inside.
Witness 2 stated that when he saw Defendant coming at him with a crowbar, he felt fear for his safety. As Defendant was entering the vestibule, he tossed down the crowbar. Witness 2 retrieved it and set it toward the back of the bank. Defendant was mad because he wanted to get into his safety deposit box but it was inaccessible due to technological difficulties. When Witness 2 went near the crowbar again, 3 19HA-CR-26-35 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/9/2026 Defendant, still angry, approached him and shoved him saying that he wanted his crowbar back.
Witness 2 defended himself and said that he could not have it until he left the bank. Defendant then grabbed a coat tree, but Witness 2 put his foot on the base to prevent it from being moved. Witnesses say they heard Defendant state, “I have a gun.” Witness 1 heard him also say that it’s in his car. Another employee (“Witness 3”) heard him say that he “could take all of them and I have a gun in my car, but I don’t need it.” In order to try to deescalate the situation and prevent Defendant from leaving, Witness 1 said they would try again to access his safety deposit box but needed an ID. Defendant left the bank to get his ID and Witness 1 locked the exterior door behind him.
