On March 2, 2026, at approximately 5:31 P.M., police received a call about a domestic assault. The complainant, RG, said her juvenile client, MJ, sent her a text message that her mother, SADE DOMINIQUE JOHNSON – [DOB REDACTED], held a knife to her head during an argument. Police discovered that the address provided by RG was incorrect. Police were able to reach JOHNSON by phone. JOHNSON would not provide her address to police and said nothing happened besides an argument. JOHNSON agreed to speak with police via FaceTime so they could see and talk to MJ. Police noted that MJ was on camera but unable to speak without JOHNSON interrupting.
MJ was crying and unable to speak. JOHNSON then hung up the phone and would not answer any other calls. Police were able to locate JOHNSON’s address and responded to the residence. After knocking for some time, JOHNSON opened the door. JOHNSON allowed police to go upstairs to speak with MJ, but JOHNSON continuously spoke over police and cut MJ off from speaking. MJ was visibly upset and covered herself with a blanket. When asked if she wanted to be seen at Children’s Hospital, MJ nodded her head affirmatively.
Police took MJ to their squad car to see if she could describe what happened. MJ said an argument took place about cleaning the cat box. MJ reported that she was in the kitchen with JOHNSON and JOHNSON made a pizza that she was beginning to cut into pieces, which is why she had a knife. MJ said during the argument, JOHNSON grabbed her by the right shoulder, pushed her down, and put the point of the knife to the right side of MJ’s head while calling her names. MJ stated that she texted her counselor about the incident, but her phone was taken away shortly thereafter.
An officer went inside to try to retrieve MJ’s phone. Without prompting, JOHNSON said something to the effect of, “I was not going to stab her.” When asked if JOHNSON could fill the officer in about what happened and why she brought up the knife and stabbing, JOHNSON responded that she knew the knife was involved because the argument took place while she was cutting pizza. Police took JOHNSON into custody. MJ and JOHNSON’s other three children were transported to Children’s Hospital. A CPS employee met police at the hospital.
Hospital staff informed police that the children’s aunt was coming and would likely take custody of them. Hospital staff told police that MJ appeared traumatized. On March 3, following a Miranda advisory, JOHNSON spoke with the investigator at the Ramsey County Jail. JOHNSON said that her daughter, MJ, had been disrespectful towards her and was not cleaning the cat box. JOHNSON reported that she was in the kitchen using a knife to cut the pizza and yelling at MJ. JOHNSON said that as she yelled at MJ, she told MJ to turn over her cell phone because MJ had not been cleaning the cat box and was always on an electronic device.
