Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester Police Dept. spokesman is calling it a one man crime spree that happened near Kellogg Middle School Thursday - in broad daylight.

Capt John Sherwin says every available officer and police dog were sent to the northeast neighborhood looking for a man who had entered occupied homes and threatened at least two people.

Police first became aware around 1:00 PM when a 14-year-old girl called to report a man had just left her home in the 1600 block of 7 ½ Ave NE. The girl says she was dozing in her bedroom when the man walked in and threatened to kill her. He took some Air Jordans and other items and left. The girl’s 17-year-old brother was sleeping in his room and after telling him what happened, she called 911.

Over the next 15-20 minutes, the man entered another home where a 78-year-old woman was reading. He threw a shoe at her before leaving. Sherwin says he also went to  another residence where a 79-year-old man and his wife were just returning. The man threatened to punch the homeowner when he confronted him. He then grabbed the victim’s glasses off his face and left.

Sherwin says the man entered another home where a woman was sleeping. When she heard a noise in another room, she called out and the man answered. That’s when the 61-year-old woman grabbed her handgun and chambered a round. The man left, taking an umbrella on the way out.

He fought with police when he was finally located but was eventually tased and taken to jail. Sherwin says the man - 26-year-old Kenneth Lewis - has a Shoreview address. He is now facing a long list of charges.

Olmsted County ADC
Olmsted County ADC
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