On October 7, 2024, deputies of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a male, later identified as Thomas Joseph Cardinal Jr., [DOB redacted], Defendant herein, being upset with contractors at a residence on 171 Ln NE in the city of Ham Lake, Anoka County, Minnesota. While en route, Defendant’s sister H. C. Informed dispatch that Defendant was currently shooting a gun in the air. When deputies arrived, they made contact with H. C. Who indicated that Defendant was still at the house and that the contractors had left.
Deputies also spoke to Defendant’s father, who stated that Defendant used a 12-gauge shotgun but was not sure where the weapon was located. As deputies got closer to the residence, they observed a vehicle pulling out of another driveway on the property. Deputies recognized Defendant in the passenger seat, initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle, and placed Defendant in custody. Deputies again made contact with H. C. Who stated that contractors were at the residence to finalize a contract when Defendant became upset.
H. C. Suspected that Defendant was under the influence of a controlled substance. H. C. Told deputies that Defendant asked where the shotgun was. H. C. Then walked with the contractors to the end of the driveway while Defendant stayed in the garage. She then heard her mother cry and say something to Defendant. A few seconds later, H. C. Heard several gunshots from the backyard, which prompted her to call 911. Defendant’s father also confirmed that he heard the gunshots while at the end of the driveway with H. C. And the contractors and told deputies that Defendant had used the shotgun before.
Deputies located a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun leaning against a wall in the detached garage as well as spent shotgun shells inside a dumpster near the detached garage. Three shotgun casing caps and one shotgun wad was located in the yard near the detached garage. Swabs taken from the grip and trigger of the shotgun revealed that that a DNA mixture was present. The sample was compared to a DNA sample collected from Defendant pursuant to search warrant. A comparison revealed that Defendant is a possible contributor to the mixture and that “this mixture is greater than one billion times more likely if it originated from [Defendant] and three unknown unrelated individuals than if it originated from four unknown unrelated individuals.
Defendant has several prior convictions disqualifying him from possessing a firearm, including a conviction for 5th Controlled Substance, court file ••-CR-••-••••.
