ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud man is facing assault charges after he allegedly shot a person's vehicle tire with an air rifle.

St. Cloud Assistant Police Chief Jeff Oxton says officers got a call shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday about someone shooting at a vehicle with an air rifle in the 10 block of 4th Avenue Southeast in St. Cloud.

When officers arrived a 36-year-old man from St. Cloud told them he had some engine problems and pulled over in the vacant parking lot on 4th Avenue Southeast. While he was pulled over he heard two air rifle shots and later discovered his front tire was leaking air and deflating. The man told authorities he thought the shots came from a home across the street and that he noticed movement behind one of the windows of the home.

Officers did see damage on the tire and went to the home to question the owner. Police did find an air rifle inside the home, next to an unlocked window with no screen.

Oxton says they also found several other guns in the home. The homeowner, 42-year-old Robert Zimmer has a past felony conviction which means he legally can't own any guns.

Zimmer was taken to Benton County Jail. He is being held on 2nd-degree assault charges and other related charges for being in possession of a firearm.

Oxton says there doesn't appear to be a connection between Zimmer and the victim.

The victim did have two passengers in his car during the incident, a 34-year-old woman from St. Cloud and a five-month-old baby, no one was hurt.

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