The following is based on your complainant’s review of the reports of other officers and your complainant’s own investigation: In early November 2025, St. Paul Police received a report of assault that had occurred at a rooming house on Westminster St. In St. Paul, Ramsey County. A man reported that as he helped a friend move items from the home, he was assaulted by another tenant, the defendant, TIMOTHY MICHAEL ERNST ([DOB REDACTED]). The man was later found to have suffered a dislocated finger from the assault.
The man’s friend, REL ([DOB REDACTED]), corroborated the man’s account. The owner of the home confirmed that the defendant and REL both live in the home and that the defendant had become angry during the removal of REL’s items. A case against the defendant for the assault on the man has been presented to the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office for a possible charge (25-201767). About ten days later, REL reported to officers that the defendant had previously assaulted him as well. He said that since they both moved into the home earlier in the year, the defendant had repeatedly damaged and stolen his property.
REL continued that on October 8, 2025, while the two were in the driveway of the home, he repaid some funds that he owed to the defendant. He said that the defendant demanded to be paid purported tax and interest. He said that when he was not able to do so immediately, the defendant struck him in the back of the head with a closed fist. Surveillance video from October 8 at shortly after 12:30am was recovered. It shows two men, identified by REL as himself and the defendant, interacting in the driveway of the home, including as the defendant sits in the driver’s seat of a vehicle identified by REL as belonging to him (the defendant). At one point, the defendant exits the vehicle and abruptly and aggressively strides from the driver’s seat toward REL. As REL repeatedly asks, “what’s wrong?,” the defendant swings a punch at REL, who ducks but is apparently struck in the head.
REL runs toward the home, asking “what are you doing?,” as REL commands, “get inside!” REL also provided multiple video clips showing the defendant removing or covering security cameras; REL told officers that these cameras belong to him. REL later filed a petition for an order for protection. In a sworn affidavit accompanying the petition, he reiterated that on October 8, the defendant had yelled at him in the driveway and then “ran at me and punched me with a closed fist in the back of the head.” He described other threats and harassment as well.
In follow up interviews, REL reiterated his earlier statements yet again. He explained the delay in reporting as being caused by fear of the defendant. The defendant has been convicted of at least the following qualified domestic violence-related offenses: 1. Harassment – Felony Convicted May 27, 2022 Case No. ••-CR-••-•••• 2. Assault in the Fifth Degree – Misdemeanor Convicted April 5, 2022 Case No. 19HA-CR-21-1422 3. Violation of Domestic Abuse No Contact Order – Felony 2 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/15/2025 Convicted March 27, 2017 Case No. ••-CR-••-•••• 4. Violation of Domestic Abuse No Contact Order – Felony Convicted March 27, 2017 Case No. ••-CR-••-•••• 5. Violation of Order for Protection – Misdemeanor Convicted February 18, 2016 Case No. ••-CR-••-•••• 6. Threats of Violence Convicted February 18, 2016 Case No. ••-CR-••-•••• At least two other people have filed for protective orders against the defendant.
