Community Rallies Around Cold Spring Family Following Alleged Racially Motivated Attacks

(KNSI) – An anguished mother is pleading with the public to contact Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to ask that they take over the prosecution of a man accused of stalking and harassing their family. That stalking and harassment culminated with a man allegedly ramming an SUV into the front of their home.

Andrea Robinson says the stalking and harassment have been going on for 83 days, and a harassment restraining order taken out against the man she says is perpetrating it. The order prevents 32-year-old Benton Louis Beyer from contacting the Robinsons for two years. She says that has done little to keep Beyer away.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Stearns County, around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 24th, 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 the Robinson’s house.

Court records state video from a Ring doorbell showed the SUV stopped at the intersection across the street from the Robinson’s. The video also shows a person getting out of the SUV and running into a nearby field as it crashed into the home. Investigators say there was a large piece of granite sitting on the accelerator. A photo of the inside the SUV showed a teddy bear hanging from a noose. Andrea Robinson in white. Her husband, Phil, is Black.

Police say the crash caused extensive damage to the home. The family was there at the time, and one of Robinson’s children was sleeping on the couch in the living room, just a short distance from the impact.

The Stearns County Attorney’s Office has charged Beyer with theft of a motor vehicle, stalking, harassment, and first-degree criminal damage to property with the potential risk of bodily harm and violating the restraining order in connection to the incident. Robinson’s family and dozens of supporters packed the Cold Spring City Council chambers Tuesday night to ask the members to address racism in the city, ask the county to transfer the case to the state, and label the attack as a hate crime.

Andrea said she felt abandoned by police and community leaders after Beyer was tracked down by a neighbor and not law enforcement following the attack Saturday morning. She explained that windows on her home had been broken and security cameras shot at. She said Beyer followed her around town earlier this month and accused Beyer of making false claims against her husband by calling 911 and saying Phil threatened him. She has asked for increased police patrols around their house, and police say they have stepped up patrols, including officers in unmarked police cars.

Cold Spring Police Chief Jason Blum issued a statement about the matter, saying, “Our department takes seriously our duties to respond to and investigate all reports of criminal activity that threatens the safety and wellbeing of our residents, and we are committed to the process of thorough, fair, and impartial investigations. If evidence of a racially motivated crime is found to have occurred, our department will seek prosecution to the fullest extent under the law. We appreciate the community’s patience with the criminal investigation process.”

Some council members said they didn’t know the Robinsons were being harassed until they learned of the SUV crashing through their house. Before public testimony, Cold Spring Mayor Dave Heinen read a statement to the crowd of roughly 100.

“The City of Cold Spring vehemently rejects racist behavior in all its forms. One of the most insidious forms, which is not always visible to the community, is harassment targeting a single community member or family.

“Racism is harmful first and foremost to the victims. The damage to the sense of security and peace of mind in their own home is even more significant than the property damage resulting from this incident and will leave them with lasting scars.

“Racist behavior is harmful to our whole community as well. It is not right and is not welcome here. I want to strongly reiterate that the City of Cold Spring does not tolerate racism in any form. We strive to be a welcoming community for all persons no matter race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender identification, age, ability, place of origin, citizenship status or veteran status and we will continue to promote this community value.”

For more than two hours, residents testified in support of the Robinsons and asked Beyer also be charged with assault and a hate crime. At the end of the meeting, the council voted unanimously to send the case to the state. Council members also agreed to work with community members and form a committee to address systemic racism in Cold Spring.

Robinson thanked supporters and said so many have reached out to ask how they can help. She said, “We do need support. Anyone who lives in our community likely knows where we live. I would welcome you [to] stop by our house, introduce yourself. We’re there, we want to get to know our neighbors. Our door is always open.”

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KNSI News reporter Jake Judd contributed to this article.

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