Rochester Man Accused of Knife Threat Held on $100K Bail

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Bail has been set at $100,000 for a man accused of threatening another man with a knife Friday evening in downtown Rochester.

The criminal complaint filed Monday in Olmsted County Court says Rochester police responded to a report of an assault around 7:20 p.m. in the 400 block of 3rd Avenue Southeast. The responding officer spoke with a man who stated that he was walking through a parking lot when 19-year-old Zadian William Proszek confronted him.

Victim Says Suspect Threatened to Stab Him

The victim indicated that Proszek was upset with him for calling police the previous day to report a person in crisis. The criminal complaint says the victim told police that Proszek pulled out a knife, flipped it open, and walked toward him while saying he was going to stab him and that he would be better off dead.

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The court document says police also spoke to a witness, who stated that Proszek was holding a knife and made threatening statements such as, “You’re dead,” and, “I’m going to kill you.” The witness told police that he and the victim backed away from Proszek as he approached before Proszek eventually turned and walked away.

According to the criminal complaint, police found Proszek nearby and took him into custody. The court document says Proszek admitted confronting the victim and asking him to fight but denied having a knife. It also notes that police did not find a knife in his possession or during a search of the scene.

Surveillance Video Captures the Confrontation

Investigating officers reported reviewing surveillance video from a nearby business that captured the incident. The criminal complaint says the video shows Proszek taking something from his pocket and holding the object while advancing toward the victim and the witness, but the video is not clear enough to determine if the object was a knife.

Proszek is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony count of terroristic threats, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

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