Fergus Falls, Minn. (KFGO-KBRF) – A Fergus Falls man is charged with threatening to shoot mail carriers that walked on his lawn.
Prosecutors say Rickey Stevens, 48, sent multiple messages to the Fergus Falls Post Office August 8 complaining about mail carriers walking on his grass. In one of the messages, Stevens said that “Trespassers will be shot on sight, no questions asked.” In a later message, he said that trespassers will not be shot, but to tell the mail carriers that they will be to keep them from going on the grass.
The postmaster told police he told Stevens it was policy for carriers to walk the quickest route to each residence, which often entailed walking across lawns instead of using the sidewalk, in order to timely deliver large quantities of mail. The threat caused the postmaster to suspend mail delivery to the Stevens’ address out of concern that he may harm one of the mail carriers.
When an officer made contact with Stevens, he admitted to sending the messages. When he was informed that his statements were a threat of violence, Stevens said he was referencing a squirt gun.
Stevens was taken into custody on Saturday and made his first court appearance on Monday morning. He has been charged with felony threats of violence.
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