Newton man charged for allegedly threatening to shoot Hy-Vee employees

Upon finding out his significant other had been banned from Hy-Vee, a 50-year-old Newton man allegedly got hostile with the manager and then threatened to shoot everyone at the store and the manager’s family, leading to a confrontation with police officers and then being placed under arrest.

According to complaints filed with the Jasper County Clerk of Court, Severn P. Rodenberg has been charged with threat of terrorism, two counts of first-degree harassment and inference with official acts. Officers were first dispatched to Hy-Vee at 7:44 p.m. Nov. 10 regarding threats being made over the phone.

Witnesses told police a woman had been banned from their store. When she left the store, a man called and asked why she was banned. The store manager stated he was not allowed to discuss that information with him, but the man demanded to speak to a human resources representative.

When Hy-Vee declined, the man told the manager, “You do not want me to come to the store tonight.” He then said, “I will come there and shoot everyone there and then go and shoot and kill your family, too.” Officers spoke to Rodenberg at his home where he said he was speaking with someone at his shop.

Rodenberg said the person he was really talking to was on his property without his permission, and he told them to get out or he was “going to shoot him and his family.” But Rodenberg also admitted he was on the phone with Hy-Vee when he stated this, suggesting his comments were not directed at the manager.

Officers of the Newton Police Department advised Rodenberg that he was under arrest and to step away from a TV stand. Rodenberg said no and then ran into the kitchen while police were telling him to stop.

Newton News does not have any information for what caused the woman to be banned from the grocery store.