Man Accused of Raising Gun at Faribault School Bus
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is facing felony charges after police say a school bus aide saw him raise what appeared to be a rifle toward a bus carrying children in Faribault.
The incident unfolded shortly before 7:40 a.m. Thursday, March 5 in the area of 8th Street Northwest and 2nd Avenue Northwest.
Prosecutors have charged 38-year-old Alex Jeffrey Wolters, of Faribault, with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of threats of violence with reckless disregard and a second count alleging he displayed or brandished a replica firearm in a threatening manner.
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According to the criminal complaint, Faribault police were called after a school bus aide reported seeing a man holding what appeared to be a long gun as the bus traveled through a neighborhood. The aide told officers the man walked closer to the bus, moving from the sidewalk into the roadway, and then raised the object toward the bus.
Nine children were on board the school bus at the time.
Investigators reviewed video from inside the bus. The recording captured the aide reacting suddenly as the bus passed the area. At one point she stood up and exclaimed, “What the heck was that?” before looking back and saying, “that guy was pointing a gun at us!”
The aide directed officers to a home on 8th Street Northwest where she believed the man had come from. Police determined Wolters lived at the residence and established a perimeter around the property.
Authorities say Wolters later exited the home and was taken into custody.
After being advised of his rights, Wolters told investigators he had been checking insulation in the attic and then went to the garage that morning. He denied pointing anything at anyone who passed the home.
Wolters’ father told officers the home is shared but said Wolters would have been the only person there around the time of the incident.
Police later obtained a search warrant for the home and detached garage. In the attic, officers found a copper tube about three feet long along with black plastic tubing taped to a curved section. Investigators noted the pieces could be assembled to resemble the shape of a long gun.
Officers also found a spent .30-06 shell casing on an antenna in a basement bedroom.
Two large gun safes were located inside the garage. According to Wolters’ father, one safe with a dial lock was supposed to be left set at the number 90, but officers observed the dial sitting halfway between 90 and zero. A second safe appeared partially open at the top but remained locked. Police later recovered several firearms from the safes, including pellet rifles, multiple .22-caliber rifles, several shotguns and a .22 pistol.
Court records show Wolters was already under court supervision in a separate threats of violence case that remains pending.
If convicted of the assault charge, Wolters faces up to seven years in prison. The threats of violence charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Wolters made an initial court appearance last week where bail was set at $100,000 with conditions.
According to the criminal complaint, Faribault police were called after a school bus aide reported seeing a man holding what appeared to be a long gun as the bus traveled through a neighborhood.