An Albert Lea man who threatened a Freeborn County employee with a hammer in July was placed on probation for up to five years Friday in Freeborn County District Court.

Brian George Boettcher, 64, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to felony threats of violence in October. He was sentenced to two days in jail and was given credit for two days served.

While on probation, Boettcher is expected to not use or possess firearms, ammunition or explosives, follow state and federal criminal laws, undergo cognitive skill training, follow recommendations of a mental health evaluation and meet other court requirements.

Court documents state Boettcher was charged after Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a male threatening a Freeborn County employee who was mowing the lawn near Freeborn County Road 17.

After the employee took a picture of Boettcher, turned off his lawnmower and exited it, Boettcher pulled out a claw hammer from the back of his van and approached him.

“(Boettcher) appeared enraged, and as he approached (the) victim, he swung the hammer as to strike the front of the tractor (the) victim was in,” court documents state.

He allegedly climbed up the steps of the tractor leading to the employee, hovering over him and pulling down the tractor door, yelling at him after becoming angry that the victim was mowing grass on the road.

Boettcher was later arrested during a traffic stop.

Boettcher was charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, but that charge was dismissed.

 

See what happened over the weekend in the PM report here.