On April 17, 2026, at approximately 6:28 P.M., police responded to Aldi, [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, Ramsey County, on a report of a gun pointing incident. Upon arrival, police met with JAM, who provided a description of the suspect, later fully identified as STEVEN LOREN MEHSIKOMER – [DOB REDACTED]. JAM said the incident took place at the intersection of Ruth Street and the Interstate 94 east exit ramp. JAM reported that she met MEHSIKOMER approximately two weeks ago at the Salvation Army and believes he is stalking her.
JAM said that whenever she and her sister are out, MEHSIKOMER will randomly be in the area. That day, JAM reported that MEHSIKOMER pointed a handgun at her. JAM said MEHSIKOMER was aggressive with her in the past and would swear at her and tell her to stay out of certain areas. JAM also reported that MEHSIKOMER threatened her in the past. Police also spoke with an Aldi security guard, KH, who said that she was not present at the beginning of the altercation. When she came outside, KH reported that she saw the male waving the gun in the air then put his hand down near his chest, presumably to put the firearm in his jacket.
KH denied that he pointed the gun at her personally. Police searched the area. An officer observed MEHSIKOMER exit the wooded area next to the Suburban Pond on the south side then walk onto Louise Avenue. MEHSIKOMER was detained. JAM was transported to the scene and confirmed that MEHSIKOMER was the person who pointed the gun at her. In a search incident to arrest, police located a small clear bag of suspected narcotics and a blue smoking pipe in MEHSIKOMER’s pocket. Police did not locate a firearm.
Following a Miranda advisory, MEHSIKOMER was informed that someone reported that he pointed a firearm at them and there were witnesses who saw him with a firearm. When asked if he pointed a firearm at anybody, MEHSIKOMER said no. When asked about his relationship with JAM, MEHSIKOMER responded that he met her a week ago and got to know her over the past couple of days because they both live at the encampment off of Fish Hatchery Road. When asked about the incident at Aldi, MEHSIKOMER reported that he was panhandling on the exit ramp from Interstate 94 east to Ruth Street when JAM approached him and said she was signing there.
MEHSIKOMER said he told JAM that no one was there. MEHSIKOMER stated that JAM accused him of stalking her, and he responded that he wasn’t stalking her and lives in the area. MEHSIKOMER said JAM told him that she was going to sign there for another 30 minutes. MEHSIKOMER reported that he again told her that no one was there. MEHSIKOMER stated that JAM told him to leave or she would make him sorry. At that point, MEHSIKOMER reported that he got up and left. MEHSIKOMER denied knowing why people would say he was waving a gun around.
