Man Charged After Allegedly Threatening to Shoot Up South St. Paul Home Hours After Sentencing
Dakota County Jail Booking Photo
SOUTH SAINT PAUL: A 19-year-old man is facing three new felony charges after allegedly threatening to shoot up a South St. Paul residence and fleeing police on the same day he was convicted and sentenced in a separate threats-of-violence case in Ramsey County, according to a Dakota County criminal complaint.
Caleb Jai Skinner is charged with threats of violence, possession of a firearm by an ineligible person and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle in connection with the Aug. 21 incident.
According to the complaint, Skinner was convicted and sentenced at approximately 1:30 p.m. that same day in a separate Ramsey County threats-of-violence case. The Dakota County complaint states that the earlier case involved Skinner threatening to kill his parents before going into his bedroom and racking a firearm. Police allegedly found a loaded Glock handgun, another loaded magazine and additional ammunition underneath his bed.
That conviction prohibited Skinner from possessing firearms or ammunition, according to the complaint.
Later on Aug. 21, South St. Paul police were dispatched to a residence after receiving a report that Skinner had made threats toward a family living there. A woman told officers that Skinner, her stepdaughter's boyfriend, had threatened to shoot up the residence following an argument.
Another family member told police that Skinner had been asked to leave after an argument but returned while still angry. When he was again told to leave, Skinner allegedly made a statement the family member interpreted as a threat to shoot him.
Skinner's girlfriend, who was staying at the residence with their child, told officers she knew Skinner to frequently carry a black 1911-style handgun and believed he was capable of carrying out the alleged threat.
Police also reviewed text messages Skinner allegedly sent to his girlfriend in which he threatened to shoot up the home and referenced children inside, according to the complaint.
Law enforcement obtained a description of Skinner's vehicle and later located it after he allegedly drove past the residence. Officers attempted a traffic stop using emergency lights and sirens. An officer also used a squad car's public-address system to order Skinner out of the vehicle, but Skinner allegedly drove away.
The Minnesota State Patrol used an aircraft to track the vehicle into Hennepin County. Richfield police deployed a tire-deflation device, but Skinner allegedly continued driving even as parts of the vehicle began falling off.
According to the probable cause statement, Skinner eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot before being apprehended. A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a pistol and loaded magazine on the floorboard.
Prosecutors have filed notice of their intent to seek an aggravated sentence, citing allegations that the offense was committed in the presence of a child and its proximity in time to Skinner's sentencing in the earlier case.
The allegations in the Dakota County case have not been proven in court. Skinner is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty.