Man Wielding Hammer Arrested at Rochester, MN Cub Foods Store

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Police arrested a man who was reportedly swinging a hammer at shoppers and employees at Cub Foods Wednesday night. 

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Police Captain Casey Moilanen said officers were dispatched to the grocery store in the 1000 block of 15th Ave. Southeast shortly before 11:30 p.m. Multiple people had reported a man running through the store attacking people with the hammer. 

Upon arrival officers reported hearing yelling and screaming. They found the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Pedro Vasquez of Rochester, being restrained in the deli area by one of the victims. 

Moilanen said the investigation at the scene indicated Vasquez may have been under the influence of drugs. Witnesses reported seeing him pacing throughout the store and a cashier told officers that Vasquez told him he knew him and said he killed his father despite Vasquez being unknown to the cashier. 

Officers were told that Vasquez then disappeared into an employee area and returned to the shopping area with a hammer, which he started swinging at shoppers. Moilanen said no one was hit by the hammer. 

The man found restraining Vasquez told police that Vasquez swung the hammer at him then tripped, allowing the victim to restrain him. Moilanen says Rochester Police are referring charges of felony second-degree assault and disorderly conduct against Vasquez to the Olmsted County Attorney.