St. Paul Man Accused of Approaching Pair With Machete, Failing to Comply With Predatory Offender Registration
Ramsey County Jail Booking Photo
Published: October 1st 2026.
SAINT PAUL MN - A 37-year-old man is facing two felony cases in Ramsey County after he allegedly approached two people with a machete at a downtown St. Paul bus shelter and was separately accused of failing to comply with predatory offender registration requirements.
Jonathan Robert Jones is charged with felony threats of violence and, in a separate complaint, felony failure to comply with predatory offender registration requirements.
According to the first complaint, Metro Transit police were called Sept. 30 to a bus shelter near Fourth and Sibley streets in St. Paul.
A man told police that he and a female companion were looking at the bus schedule when Jones, who was sitting in the shelter, allegedly became upset because he believed they were looking at him.
Prosecutors allege Jones stood up, asked, “Is there a problem? Do we have a problem?” and retrieved a large machete in a sheath before advancing toward the pair.
The man reportedly told Jones to step back as Jones continued toward them. He and his companion then retreated, according to the complaint.
Police reviewed security video that prosecutors say was consistent with the man's account. Jones was arrested, and officers allegedly found a large machete in a sheath inside his backpack.
Jones told police the man had offered to perform a sex act on him, according to the complaint.
A second criminal complaint filed against Jones alleges he had been noncompliant with Minnesota’s predatory offender registration requirements since March 11.
Court documents state Jones is required to register for life because of a 2007 Wisconsin sexual assault conviction. The complaint also lists a 2014 kidnapping conviction from Washington.
Prosecutors allege Jones submitted a change-of-information form in February listing his primary address as 101 Fifth St. E. in St. Paul. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension later marked him noncompliant after he failed to return an address verification form sent to that location, according to the complaint.
Investigators later determined the address Jones provided was not a residence but an address for the U.S. Postal Service, the complaint alleges.
Jones was in Ramsey County custody following his Sept. 30 arrest.
Each felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The charges are allegations. Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.