On 1/6/2026 at about 0550 hours, St. Paul Police were dispatched to 175 5th St E in St. Paul, Ramsey County for a report of two suspects who were trespassing. One had reportedly threatened a security guard with a knife. The two were described as a black male, wearing a ski mask, green jacket and blue jeans and a female with purple and pink hair wearing, a dark coat and blue jeans, and pushing a bicycle. Police responded and located the suspects at 5th St E/Robert St N. The two were identified as Benjamin Garrick JOHNSON ([DOB REDACTED]) and Katie Elizabeth DAHL ([DOB REDACTED]). The Complainants, ANM and AF, both work security at Galtier Towers.
ANM said she found the suspects trespassing there and told them to leave. When she was leading them off the property, JOHNSON said “I'm going to whip you” and “where is your partner, I'm going to hang him.” JOHNSON then approached ANM and got in her face. ANM deployed pepper spray in JOHNSON’s direction causing the two suspects to leave through a skyway. A short time later, AF found JOHNSON and DAHL in the skyway near 5th St/Sibley St. AF told JOHNSON police had been called and JOHNSON responded by pulling out a silver matte pocketknife, holding it by his side, and saying "I would like you to try that". AF was afraid JOHNSON was going to stab him, so he left the area.
JOHNSON and DAHL were arrested. During a search incident to arrest, on JOHNSON’s person police found two silver knives, green brass knuckles, a baggie of suspected narcotics, three bags of marijuana, a white substance in a container, a bag of cash, bags of coins, individual plastic baggies, and a scale. On DAHL’s person, police found a blue knife. While detained in a squad car, DAHL said that she and JOHNSON were at 175 5th St when security approached them and told them to leave. She said security then became aggressive and maced JOHNSON. She and JOHNSON left the area and moved to another location, but security approached them again.
DAHL denied that JOHNSON threatened anyone with his knife but admitted that he was holding the knife during the encounter. In a post-Miranda interview, JOHNSON said he had been in the skyway, had an interaction with security, and was trying to find his way out. JOHNSON said his knife was a silver, foldable, pocketknife and he admitted to possessing the brass knuckles. The suspected drugs recovered from JOHNSON later tested positive for Methamphetamine (net weight.30 grams) and Fentanyl (net weight 2.26 grams). For purposes of Rule 6.02, JOHNSON has an open felony case for 5th Degree Drugs (••-CR-••-••••).
