Rochester Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Roofer During Payment Dispute

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is facing a felony threats charge for allegedly threatening to kill a roofer. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday morning. 

The alleged threats were made while the contractor was at the suspect’s home on Tuesday, according to the court document. 

Rochester Man Facing Felony Charge for Allegedly Threatening Roofer During Payment Dispute

The victim told Rochester police that he was at the home of 76-year-old Jerome (Joe) Allen Cogswell to review a certificate of completion regarding a new roof installed on Cogswell’s home and detached garage. 

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He said Cogswell’s insurance covered part of the cost and that there was an outstanding final balance based upon a contract between the local roofing company and Cogswell, the complaint says. 

After the victim mentioned the remaining balance, the conversation escalated and Cogswell made multiple threats to kill the roofer, the complaint alleges. 

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At one point Cogswell instructed his wife to “get the gun” and that he “stood up, began walking toward a closet, and started a countdown,” the complaint says. 

The victim told police he ran out of the house, got into his vehicle and drove away. 

Rochester Man Suspected of Threatening Roofer Speaks to Police

Police contacted Coswell by phone and asked him about the incident. The court document says Cogswell talked about breaking the victim’s neck and “continued to make numerous threats of a similar nature referring to victim.” 

The officer also asked Cogswell about if he threatened to shoot the victim and Cogswell responded by saying the victim “should be shot and hung, and repeatedly referenced breaking victim's neck,” according to the complaint. 

Officers then went to Cogswell’s home and spoke with him in the driveway. 

Cogswell and his wife believed they were being scammed. He also had a similar response to the one he gave over the phone when officers mentioned the victim’s report of Cogswell threatening to shoot him, the court document indicates. 

Officers arrested Cogswell and took him to a squad vehicle. While being escorted to the squad, Cogswell stated "there's gonna be a war, I guarantee ya" and "there's gonna be a machine gun war” and indicated he was going to kill the victim, according to the complaint. 

Cogswell made his first appearance on a felony threats charge Wednesday morning. His next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.