On or about April 21, 2026 at approximately 8:25 P.M., Bloomington officers responded to a threats call at the La Quinta hotel on Nicollet Avenue South in Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The reporting party, N. P. (“Victim” herein) told dispatch that he is a staff member at the hotel, and one of the guests at the hotel had a weapon. Officers arrived on scene and spoke with Victim. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was working at the front desk when ALTON IVORY JOSEPH FOSTER (“Defendant” herein) approached the front desk to report his room key was not working.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] would help Defendant get into the room to retrieve his belongings. Victim tried to open Defendant’s hotel room door, but Victim’s key was not working. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was very impatient and kept saying he needed to get into the room. Victim [NAME REDACTED], but it did not work. Victim told Defendant that he needed to go back to the front desk to get a different key or another employee to help. Victim [NAME REDACTED], at this point, Defendant pulled a silver pocketknife from his back pocket and opened the blade of the knife.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was holding the blade of the knife towards Victim’s direction. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was very afraid of what Defendant was going to do. Victim described the knife as “as long as the palm of his hand” and silver in color. Victim reported that Defendant held the knife 2-3 feet away from Victim while demanding that Victim [NAME REDACTED]. Victim [NAME REDACTED] from the door. While Victim [NAME REDACTED], he saw Defendant walk out of the hotel with a cigarette. As officers talked with Victim, [NAME REDACTED] from dispatch that Defendant called 911 as well.
Officers located Defendant walking around the parking lot of the hotel. Officers asked Defendant what transpired inside the hotel, and Defendant told officers that there was a problem getting into his room, so he asked the front desk for help. Defendant denied threatening staff. Officers saw that Defendant had something that appeared to be a pocketknife clipped to the front right pocket of his jeans. Officers arrested Defendant and searched him. Officers confirmed that the item in Defendant’s jeans pocket was a silver pocketknife.
The pocketknife matched the description Victim gave of the knife Defendant used to threaten him. Officers transported Defendant to the Hennepin County jail. Defendant remains in custody.
