WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man threatened to fire a hand-triggered propane torch at a pursuing officer: “I will light you up, bitch,” he growled , according to the officer’s report. Told repeatedly to drop the torch and threatened with being tased, the man finally dropped it. Brett John Dennis, 36. was cuffed and arrested. This was about 7:40 p.m. at Sarnia and Mankato on the Far East End. This, according to the officer, is how it all began: The officer spotted Dennis on a bicycle and knew he was wanted on an arrest warrant. The officer, in a squad car, turned on his lights. Dennis pedaled faster. The officer followed. Dennis crashed the bicycle near the Mugby Junction coffee stand and ran. The officer pursued on foot. Dennis stopped and turned and pointed the propane torch at the officer and threatened “to light you up.” At jail Dennis was booked for a terroristic threat and fleeing an officer – in addition to theft on the earlier warrant for theft.
Dennis. Armed with a torch with a 14.1-ounces propane torch. Retails about $40.
