Man Accused of Crashing SUV Into Cold Spring Home

(KNSI) – A Cold Spring woman whose kids were the target of racist harassment at school says a man intentionally crashed an SUV into her home to harm her family.

The incident happened Saturday morning in Cold Spring, and police say the SUV was stolen. Andrea Robinson posted a video to her Facebook page Monday night after learning the Stearns County Attorney’s office wasn’t planning to file assault charges against the suspect, Benton Louis Beyer.

“Their assault charges aren’t standing because they don’t feel they have enough proof of harm to someone. Although he drove an Excursion into the front of our house, with our vehicle sitting outside, he’s very well aware of our schedule because he stalks us every day for the past 83 days.

“To allow someone to drive into our house and leave a vehicle with a noose hanging in it. If that’s not a clear enough message, I don’t know what is there was one intent and that was to kill someone in my house. And for the grace of God. We’re all sitting here today.”

Robinson is white. Her husband is black. Robinson says Beyer has been stalking her family for months. Officers say they’ve received 18 calls about Beyer allegedly harassing or stalking the family. An order of protection was put in place on May 21, barring Beyer from having any contact with Robinson for two years.

The Stearns County Attorney’s Office has charged Benton Louis Beyer with theft of a motor vehicle, stalking, harassment, and criminal damage to property in the 1st degree in connection to the incident.

Robinson is asking prosecutors to file more serious charges.

According to the criminal complaint, around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, a man in the 300-block of 3rd Avenue South in Cold Spring reported his SUV was stolen, and he believed Beyer took it. About five minutes later, the SUV crashed into Robinson’s house. Investigators say there was a large piece of granite sitting on the accelerator.

Court records state video from a Ring doorbell showed the SUV stopped at the intersection across the street from the Robinson’s. A person was seen getting out of the SUV and running into a nearby field as the SUV crashed into the home. Police say the crash caused extensive damage to the home. The family was inside at the time of the crash, and one of Robinson’s children was sleeping on the couch in the living room, just a short distance from the impact.

Police say they found the 32-year-old Beyer walking near Alexander Park in Cold Spring, and he was arrested. Beyer is also facing a charge of violating the no-contact order in a separate incident in Waite Park. He also has a conviction for assault in the second degree in 2012.

In May, Robinson was in the news after she went public about her children repeatedly being the target of racist behavior in Rocori public schools. She says they’ve been called a racial epithet by other students and have been singled out unfairly for discipline when they lashed out in response.

The Rocori School Board and administrators stated they plan to reexamine policies on bullying and discipline following reports. The district says they plan to form a district-wide equity committee, increase staff training and student discussions, provide mental health support to students, and a tip line where kids can anonymously report bullying.

Robinson says she will hold a press conference on Tuesday evening after the Cold Spring City Council meeting.

Cold Spring State Representative Lisa Demuth issued the following statement regarding the incident Saturday.

“I’m deeply disturbed by the attack that took place in Cold Spring this weekend. While there was thankfully no loss of life or injuries, we still have a family that has been targeted by a pattern of despicable hatred. Now is the time for the Cold Spring community to rally around this family, and send a clear message that hate and racism have no place here, and we won’t tolerate one of our neighbors being treated this way. My prayers are with the family for healing and that they will be surrounded with love and support in the coming weeks.”

___