On March 7, 2026, at 10:50 P.M., Saint Paul Officers were dispatched to the Celeste of Saint Paul Hotel, [ADDRESS REDACTED] East, Saint Paul, County of Ramsey, on a disorderly male in the bar area of the hotel. Officer Fritz arrived and spoke to a female staff member who said that a male-later identified as SHANE ALEXANDER HELLMUTH, [DOB REDACTED]-was aggressive with patrons and employees in the bar area. Staff identified a female as RJC. Staff gave officers HELLMUTH’s telephone. Staff wanted officers to return the phone to HELLMUTH and to make sure he and RJC were okay.
Officer Fritz approached HELLMUTH’s hotel room and immediately heard a woman crying inside. Officer Fritz heard the female say something about not being able to breathe and that he choked her. Officer Fritz knocked on the door and announced police. A male’s voice was heard inside the hotel room. A female-RJC-went to the door but said she could not open it because the door handle was broken on the inside. The male-later identified as HELLMUTH-said he was stuck on the ground and could not get up. Other officers responded and Officer Fritz told them what he heard the female say.
HELLMUTH became angry and said, “I’ll show you angry, m***********!” Concerned about RJC’s safety, Officer Fritz kicked the door to open it. Officers entered the room and handcuffed HELLMUTH. HELLMUTH said he and RJC were not married, but are common law spouses. RJC was crying and difficult to understand. She said nothing really happened tonight except that HELLMUTH drank too much. RJC said a male went behind the bar and HELLMUTH was frustrated about it and became combative. They went up to their room and everything was fine until officers showed up.
Officer Fritz told RJC that he heard her say she “couldn’t breathe because you were choking me.” RJC placed her hands over her face and cried louder. RJC confirmed that HELLMUTH was physical with her on this night, but said it has never happened before. She said he got drunk and made a comment about turning off the electricity and water because he pays the bill. She told him it was “b*******” for him to do that since they both live there. When asked what happened in the room, RJC said it was “scary.” RJC said that she did not lose consciousness, but she could not breathe.
She said she was lying on the floor and HELLMUTH was on top of her holding her throat with one hand. RJC had redness on the bottom of her neck. During blueprint questions, RJC said HELLMUTH has access to firearms at his house. She said she could not talk while being strangled. RJC declined medics. She also declined photos of her injuries.
