Stewartville Man Accused of Threatening to Shoot Up Business

Stewartville, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrested a Stewartville man who reportedly threatened to shoot up a business Friday morning. 

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Sheriff’s Captain James Schueller said a 911 caller reported concerns over staff safety at the business and requested a welfare check around 6:20 a.m. Deputies responded to the business in Stewartville and learned a man, identified as 20-year-old Javarie Smith, had called the business saying a staff member had COVID and needed to be sent home. 

When staff at the workplace learned the staff member did not have COVID, Smith reportedly called the business back and began threatening to shoot it up with an AR-15 if the staff member was not sent home. Smith allegedly called the business 8-10 more times while deputies were on scene and at one point told employees “your time has come to an end,” according to Schueller. 

Deputies learned Smith may have been calling from the staff member's apartment and obtained a key and layout to the unit. Schueller said law enforcement gained entry to the apartment and arrested Smith without further incident. Deputies did not find an AR-15 in the apartment. 

Related: Size of Sandwich at Rochester Restaurant Leads to Threats Charges

Smith then reportedly threatened to take a deputy's rifle and described himself as an Olmsted County Sheriff’s Deputy killer while being transported to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. Meanwhile the woman told deputies that Smith had assaulted her earlier in the day and threatened to kill her as was following her to work, Schueller said.

Smith was jailed on suspicion of two counts of felony thefts and misdemeanor domestic assault. He’s awaiting arraignment in Olmsted County Court.