On January 23, 2026, at approximately 3:23 P.M., police responded to an apartment at 1XXX Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on a report of a domestic assault. The complainant, SBMS, called 911 screaming to report that her boyfriend hit her and covered her mouth. SBMS said she was punched in the face and the male left. Upon arrival, police met with SBMS, who was crying and very upset. SBMS had a visible mark on and below her lower lip. SBMS reported that she has been living at the apartment with RONALD SHERDAN STEELE – [DOB redacted] for approximately two months, and they have a sexual relationship.
SBMS said she has been sleeping with STEELE so she can stay at his apartment. SBMS reported that when she got up that afternoon, STEELE wanted to have sex, but she told him no. They began arguing. SBMS said STEELE was upset because she was talking to someone else online. SBMS told STEELE that she was not going to have sex with him because he’s gay, which made him upset. SBMS reported that STEELE threw a wire basket at her then jumped on her on the bed. SBMS said STEELE punched her in the ribs on her right side then put both hands over her mouth and pushed down hard with all of his body weight on top of her.
SBMS reported that she was unable to breathe or scream while his hands were over her mouth and tried to break free. When SBMS was able to get his hands off her mouth, she said STEELE pushed her face down into the pillows and she could still not breathe. SBMS stated that STEELE then put his hands back over her mouth and continued suffocating her. SBMS reported that STEELE told her, “Shut the f*** up if she ever wanted to breathe.” SBMS said that she started to get light-headed, and when she finally escaped after a few minutes, she got tunnel vision and had difficulty seeing.
SBMS fled into the bathroom, held the door shut, and called 911. SBMS also showed police a knot on the side of her head. In a follow-up statement, SBMS confirmed that she argued with STEELE, who then got on top of her on the bed while she was lying on her stomach. SBMS reported that STEELE struck her rib, the back of her head, and the temple of her face area with a closed fist. SBMS said she tried to move and began screaming thinking the neighbors would hear the commotion. As she was screaming, SBMS said STEELE used his thumbs to pinch her nose then covered her mouth with his hands, which caused her to be unable to breathe or scream.
Eventually, SMBS was able to escape and ran to the bathroom to call 911. SBMS said she noticed STEELE was not in the apartment when she opened the bathroom door to exit and let police into the building. SBMS reported that she had a big knob on her forearm, a bruise on her lower lip, and tenderness on her throat and around her jawline. While STEELE suffocated her, he told her, “Shut the f*** up. I’m not going to lose my apartment because you crazy, shut the f*** up b****, you think I’m soft but I’m not.” SMBS reiterated that the suffocation caused her to get tunnel vision.
