Man Accused of Threatening Worker With Knife, Yelling Racial Slurs at Rochester Business

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A man experiencing homelessness in Rochester is facing a felony assault charge. 

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A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday says he was accused of threatening an individual with a knife and yelling racial slurs at an unspecified business in northwest Rochester. 

Rochester Police responded to the alleged criminal activity shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 28. 

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An employee told police a man identified as 65-year-old Vincent Ray Mathis called him a racial slur, produced a knife, pointed it at the man and walked towards him as yelled racial slurs at the victim, the complaint says. 

Mathis then threw the knife at the victim then left the store after another worker told him to leave, the charging document says. 

The other worker told police Mathis had come to the store three times prior to the alleged knife threat and was yelling racial slurs, according to the complaint. 

Police found and arrested Mathis. He was charged Friday with a count of second-degree assault and his bail was set at $30,000 without conditions.

Mathis is due back in court in October. Olmsted County Adult Detention Center records indicate Mathis remains held in the jail. 

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