A Red Wing man pointed a Glock-style BB gun at another driver while passing her at high speed on a rural Goodhue County road, then waved the weapon out his window and continued to brandish it at a second intersection, according to charges.
Jonathan Todd Peterson, 37, faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence for displaying and pointing a replica pistol at the victim during the encounter.
According to the complaint, at about 6:30 p.m. on September 10, deputies responded to a report of threats at the intersection of County Road 2 and County Road 5. The victim told law enforcement she was driving northbound on County Road 5 when a black Ford Fusion approached at a high rate of speed and attempted to pass her. She described the driver as a white male with glasses and short hair, and said there were no other occupants in the vehicle.
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The victim reported that as the vehicle passed, the male driver showed her a long-barrel, Glock-like pistol, waved it around and then pointed it directly at her. As he continued past, he held the gun out the window. The victim said she was visibly shaking after the encounter and was concerned for her safety and that of her brother, who was in the passenger seat. She also told deputies she planned to have another occupant drive her home.
A second occupant of the victim’s vehicle described the gun as a Gen 5 Glock with a long barrel and said the male driver waved it out the window and pointed it at their vehicle. He estimated the suspect’s vehicle was traveling at about 100 mph.
Officers identified the suspect vehicle as registered to a Carrie Peterson and linked it to Jonathan Todd Peterson through a prior traffic stop. An officer anticipated Peterson might return to Red Wing via Hay Creek Trail and waited in the parking lot of First Covenant Church. A short time later, the officer spotted the black sedan and confirmed it matched the description from the gun-pointing report.
After initiating a traffic stop, officers ordered the driver out of the vehicle. Peterson exited while yelling that it was only a BB gun and claimed he had a stalker, which was why he had the BB gun. Officers took Peterson into custody and found a black-handled, pistol-style BB gun on the passenger side floorboard, partially tucked under the seat but still in plain view. Peterson told officers he did not believe he was supposed to have access to a BB gun due to his criminal history.
Deputies recovered the BB gun, which resembled a Glock 20 and confirmed it was unloaded. Peterson was transported to the Goodhue County Adult Detention Center. The complaint does not mention any shots fired during the encounter.
The charges were filed September 11 in Goodhue County District Court.
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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