A man in a motorized wheelchair pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at staff members in the hallway of his Owatonna apartment building and threatened to make the building director “pay,” according to charges.
Raymond Bates Drew, 54, of Owatonna, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of making terroristic threats with reckless disregard for risk and one count of threats of violence. The charges were filed Thursday, August 20, in Steele County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers responded to the 120 block of Park Street Southeast in Owatonna at about 12:59 p.m. on August 16 after a report that a male was in the hallway with a black handgun, yelling and cursing at staff. Staff identified the man as Raymond Bates Drew and said he was extremely upset, crying and screaming.
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One staff member told officers she saw Drew in the hallway outside his apartment holding a black handgun. She said Drew pointed the gun at her and yelled, “do something, do something, I dare you to do something.” Fearing for her safety, she immediately notified coworkers and called 911. Another staff member reported seeing Drew waving the gun and laughing, and believed he pointed it at her as well.
A third staff member described hearing a loud banging noise and Drew’s laughter before seeing Drew sitting in front of his door with the gun in his hand. Drew told the staff member, “you can come down, approach me in peace,” but the staff member refused to approach until Drew put the gun down. Drew then threw the gun into a basket near his door and began approaching.
When officers arrived, they found Drew had barricaded himself inside his apartment. Through the door, Drew made several threats toward the building director, saying he wanted the director “on his knees” and that “when I die, he’s going with me.” Drew eventually agreed to open the door in exchange for a cigarette. Officers found Drew in his motorized wheelchair and recovered a knife and multiple BB guns from his room, including one on his nightstand.
Drew told officers the gun he had in the hallway was a Serbian model BB gun he had purchased for $1,500. He also admitted to shooting at the hallway camera. Surveillance video provided by staff showed Drew stabbing several boxes in the hallway with a knife, shooting the BB gun at the hallway camera multiple times and then throwing the gun into a basket after staff approached.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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