On December 7, 2025, at 2254 hours, Maplewood police officers responded to 1244 Burke, Maplewood, Ramsey County, on a report of a 911 hang up. Officers arrived and spoke to JLF, [DOB REDACTED]. She said she was in her room when she heard a commotion from the common area. She heard hear daughter’s boyfriend, Joseph Robert Spiess, [DOB REDACTED], state that he was going to get a gun and “shoot you niggas.” Officers spoke to the daughter, JAF, [DOB REDACTED]. She said that she and Spiess and her brother, JAS, [DOB REDACTED], were in the living room.
Spiess was being disorderly and argumentative. He was trying to provoke her brother into a fight. Spiess began walking toward JAS. He was puffing his chest out. She got between the two men. She said that she did not hear a reference to a gun, but there was a lot going on. She acknowledged that Spiess frequently threatens to get his gun when he has been drinking, as he had been on this occasion. She said that he has a shotgun in the closet. JAS confirmed for police that Spiess said, “I’m going to get a pistol” as JAF pulled Spiess away from JAS. Officers arrested Spiess who made several unintelligible statements.
He appeared intoxicated and was unsteady on his feet. Officers recovered a 20-gauge shotgun from the closet. While waiting to be booked, Spiess began to make aggressive statements to the arrestee waiting in line behind him. The arresting officer told Spiess to “stop.” Spiess pointed out to the officer that she did not have a body camera. The officer acknowledged this. Spiess then said to the officer, “You better shut your f****** mouth up or I will kill you right now.” Spiess declined a custodial interview.
