On June 2, 2026, at approximately 11:10 A.M., police responded to Speedway gas station at [ADDRESS REDACTED] North, Roseville, Ramsey County, Minnesota. The caller reported that a male stole from the store and attempted to hit the complainant with a hammer when confronted. Upon arrival, police spoke with the complainant, DAS, who is an employee of Speedway. DAS observed the suspect, later identified as LEE ROBERT HASTINGS – [DOB REDACTED], select multiple items then walk past all points of sale without making any attempt to pay for or forfeit the merchandise.
DAS said he confronted HASTINGS outside the door and asked, “Are you going to pay for those?” DAS reported that HASTINGS grasped the wooden handle of a hammer that was inside his jacket pocket, pulled the handle upright while the hammer remained in his pocket, then told DAS, “I’ll hit you with a hammer.” DAS stated that HASTINGS made additional threatening statements while holding the handle of the hammer and advanced toward DAS. DAS advised that HASTINGS never took the hammer out of his pocket but said that he repeatedly threatened to hit him with the hammer.
DAS said he backed away to create distance between them then HASTINGS got onto his bicycle and fled the scene. A witness, HLN, reported that she observed HASTINGS inside the store with either an axe or hammer in his jacket pocket. HLN advised that she observed the wooden handle protruding from his pocket. HLN said she told a store employee that HASTINGS appeared to have a weapon in his pocket then observed the robbery. HLN reported that she saw HASTINGS grasp the wooden handle and attempt to remove it from his pocket then lifted the handle upward towards DAS. HLN stated that HASTINGS moved closer to DAS while keeping his hand on the raised handle of the weapon and approached DAS in a threatening manner.
HLN got into her vehicle, called 911, and followed HASTINGS. Police responded to the wooded area where HLN observed HASTINGS enter on his bicycle and located HASTINGS nearby. In a search incident to arrest, police located a hammer with a wooden handle as well as stolen merchandise from Speedway. Police took HASTINGS back to Speedway, and DAS identified HASTINGS as the suspect who stole from Speedway and threatened him. Following a Miranda advisory, HASTINGS mumbled incoherent statements, and police terminated the questioning.
The following information is offered for purposes of Rule 6.02. HASTINGS has a pending case involving felony charges of Motor Vehicle Theft – Value over $5,000, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Flee Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle in Ramsey County District Court File No. 62-CR- 26-3133. HASTINGS is out of custody on a conditional release pending a competency assessment. HASTINGS has the following felony convictions: Theft (2010; 2015; 2019), DANCO Violation (2010), Motor Vehicle Theft (2012; 2012; 2013; 2015; 2024), Second Degree Aggravated Robbery (2019), Fourth Degree Assault (2024), and Receiving Stolen Property (2024).
