Prior Lake man charged with assault after threatening construction workers with gun

Prior Lake American

A Prior Lake man has been charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon after allegedly threatening construction workers with a gun on June 13.

Steven Forrest Olson, 66, was taken into custody by the Prior Lake Police Department on June 13. His first court appearance will be July 13 at 8:30 a.m.

According to the criminal complaint:

Prior Lake police officers were dispatched to Friendship Church, 3269 Thornton Drive, after construction workers called and reported an irate, white male with a ponytail had approached them.

Witnesses told police the man yelled at the workers, kicked items and pointed a handgun at the workers. The man also had a rifle slung over his shoulder. Witnesses said the man demanded workers move various items away from his property.

The workers said they feared for their safety and were feeling threatened. The man left and said he would be back in five minutes and was seen walking toward a wooded area.

Officers checked the wooded area and found Olson, who talked with police and said he had possession of an unloaded long gun and denied pointing the gun at anyone and denied that he had a handgun.

Witnesses identified Olson as the man who had pointed the gun at the workers.

If convicted, Olson faces up to seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine or both.