West St. Paul Man Charged After Allegedly Firing Gun Outside Speedway Gas Station
Published: June 1st 2026
WEST SAINT PAUL MN: A West St. Paul man is facing a felony charge after prosecutors allege he fired a handgun into the air outside a Speedway gas station on Robert Street following a dispute inside the store. Police later recovered a significant amount of ammunition, multiple firearms and other weapons while executing search warrants at office spaces he rented, according to the criminal complaint.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, 43-year-old Harold Andrew Riehm has been charged with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm within a municipality, a felony offense punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.
The charge stems from an incident reported on May 29, 2026, at the Speedway gas station on Robert Street in West St. Paul.
According to the complaint, a store employee told responding officers that Riehm entered the business and was allowed to use the store phone. While on the phone, he obtained a cup of coffee and allegedly became upset when told he needed to pay for it. The employee reported that Riehm threw the coffee toward a door before leaving the store.
The employee told police she observed a handgun in the man's waistband as he exited. According to the complaint, the firearm fell to the ground outside the store. Prosecutors allege Riehm picked up the handgun and fired a shot into the air before walking through the parking lot and firing a second shot into the air.
Officers were provided surveillance images of the suspect and conducted a search of the surrounding area. According to court documents, officers located Riehm inside a nearby building where he rented office space. Police said his appearance matched the individual captured in surveillance footage, and he was taken into custody.
Investigators later obtained search warrants for three offices rented by Riehm. According to the complaint, officers recovered clothing consistent with that seen in surveillance images, a significant amount of ammunition, a rifle and two shotguns. Investigators also reported finding bullet fragments inside the building that they believed were linked to a round fired outside a window. Numerous swords and knives were also recovered, according to court documents.
During a post-Miranda interview, prosecutors say Riehm admitted he had been at the gas station and had used the phone to call his father. He also acknowledged becoming irritated after being asked to pay for the coffee. However, the complaint states he denied possessing a firearm or being the person shown in surveillance photographs.
According to the complaint, Riehm told investigators he was not permitted to possess firearms because his ex-wife had obtained a harassment restraining order against him. He reportedly admitted possessing various types of ammunition and said a wall-mounted firearm was located in one of the offices.
On May 30, a group of teenage boys reportedly found a loaded handgun in bushes near Riehm's offices. Officers recovered the firearm as evidence. An ATF trace later determined the handgun had been purchased by an individual living at the same address as Riehm, according to the complaint.
The allegations contained in the criminal complaint have not been proven in court. Riehm is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.