Man who tried to get into Cottage Grove Elementary School with knife now facing charges

A knife-wielding man who tried to get into Cottage Grove Elementary School on Tuesday is now facing charges.

RELATED: Man wielding knife at Cottage Grove Elementary School taken into custody

Touyer Yang, 46, faces the following charges:

One count of possessing a dangerous weapon on school property

One count of threats of violence

One count of first-degree damage to property, valuing over $1,000

Two counts of driving while intoxicated

According to a criminal complaint, police responded to the school after learning that Yang was locked in the doorway and was carrying a large butcher knife.

Investigators believe he arrived at the school in a black truck.

A school employee told police that another employee knocked on the office door and said that someone was driving a black truck erratically in the parking lot. As the employees were talking, Yang parked the truck and began walking toward the school with a knife in his hand.

According to court documents, Yang was “waving the knife around and yelling,” but the employees couldn’t make out what was being said.

He then started banging on the doors with the knife still in his hand. Court documents state that there were several children in the common area just beyond the doors. The children were quickly brought into other parts of the building, but several saw Yang and were very afraid, according to court documents.

After Yang was arrested, investigators found several marks on the doors and windows from where he hit them with the knife. The estimated cost of repairs is over $1,000.

Investigators searched Yang’s truck and found six additional knives, according to court documents.

Due to his erratic driving and behavior, police had Yang do field sobriety tests. Court documents state he swayed during the test and refused to take a breath test.

While sitting in the booking room, Yang admitted, unprompted, to drinking before going to the school.
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