Overview
- Thomas Edwin Edwards, 63, faces one gross misdemeanor count of obstructing the legal process and four misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree assault filed on Dec. 24.
- According to the criminal complaint, ICE agents said Edwards trailed them from a Home Depot lot while yelling, blowing a whistle, and driving erratically before making a motion as if drawing a firearm.
- Responding officers reported Edwards said agents pointed a gun at him so he took his out and later stated he would have shot an agent, and police recovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun from his truck.
- Edwards denies pointing a weapon, says he has a permit to carry, and claims the agents never identified themselves; prosecutors declined an initial felony threats allegation before the misdemeanor case was filed.
- Court records indicate Edwards was released on $6,000 bail and is due back in court Jan. 7, with a jury trial set for Jan. 20, as officials link the episode to rising tensions over ICE activity noted by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.