A Saint Peter man pointed an AR15-style rifle at a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter crew after gunshots were heard in the woods near his home, causing the crew to flee the area in fear for their safety, according to the complaint.
Royce Granville Hogue, 24, faces three charges in Nicollet County District Court: felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor counts of recklessly handling a dangerous weapon and intentionally pointing a gun.
According to the complaint, law enforcement received several requests on October 1 to conduct a welfare check at a rural Nicollet County residence after multiple people reported receiving concerning text messages from Hogue. The callers told officers that Hogue had expressed his feelings for them, stated he had a firearm and said he was “about to do something stupid.”
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Deputies attempted to contact Hogue by phone and drove past his residence but did not see him outside. Due to the nature of the messages, officers did not approach the home directly. Additional deputies and Saint Peter police officers gathered near the residence, and a crisis negotiator was called to the scene.
A short time later, one of the callers reported that Hogue had called again, said goodbye and stated he was in the woods behind his home. Deputies then heard a single gunshot, followed by additional gunfire coming from the wooded area near the residence. Officers noted there was no indication the shots were being fired at anyone.
To safely locate Hogue, deputies launched a drone, but it was unsuccessful. The Minnesota State Patrol helicopter unit, Trooper 7, responded and found a man lying face down in the woods. After a few minutes, the crew observed the man, later confirmed to be Hogue, begin to move. The crew reported that Hogue rolled over and pointed an AR15-style rifle with a magazine inserted at the helicopter crew, causing the crew to fear for their safety and immediately leave the area.
A tactical response team was activated and approached Hogue in an armored vehicle. Officers took him into custody without incident. At the scene, Hogue provided a breath sample that showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20, according to the complaint.
Hogue was transported to River’s Edge Hospital for medical clearance and then to the Nicollet County Jail. Due to his high level of impairment, he was later taken to a detox facility with a law enforcement hold placed on him.
The charges allege Hogue assaulted the helicopter crew with a dangerous weapon, recklessly handled a firearm and intentionally pointed a gun at others.
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