On December 8, 2025, law enforcement and fire rescue were dispatched to a nursing home located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in the City of Fridley, Anoka County, on the report of a structure fire. The callers reported that a male resident, JOEL GUALBERTO VILLOTA-MOLINA [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, was actively throwing burning items into the hallway every time he opened his door. Officers arrived and found the nursing home hallway was filled with thick black smoke and heard residents yelling for help.
Officers began assisting to evacuate the elderly and immobile residents. Officers learned the suspect was barricaded in his room, room 129. Officers found an immobile male resident, Victim A, in his bed in the adjoining room to the Defendants, which was filled with smoke. Flames were coming from underneath the door and into Victim A’s room. Officers were able to use an extinguisher on the fire and evacuated Victim A from the room. Afte the scene was secured; it was observed that there were two rolls of burned toilet paper that were inside Victim A’s room.
Victim A described seeing someone throwing the objects into the room from the bathroom door which directly adjoins to the Defendants room. Victim A was unable to extricate himself from the situation due to his medical needs. The Defendant had been in a room adjoining Victim A for several weeks and would have been aware of his immobility. One officer, Victim A and another elderly resident all were assessed by medical professionals for smoke inhalation with one victim being transported to the hospital.
Officers spoke with staff at the location who reported that the Defendant’s behavior has been increasingly erratic, and he appears to elope from the facility on weekends, during which time they suspect he is using narcotics. On this date, the Defendant had been acting oddly and when a fire alarm sounded from his room, staff went to check what was occurring. The Defendant then threw a bottle with an unknown liquid out the door towards the staff member that appeared to have smoke coming from it. The Defendant then closed the door and only re-opened it to throw burning objects out the door towards the staff members who ultimately called 911. After ensuring the safety of other residents of the facility and after the conditions in the building were safe, officers learned the Defendant had broken the window in his room and escaped the building.
He was located a short distance away by a responding Deputy. The Deputy Ordered the Defendant, who was carrying a cane, to stop. The Defendant ignored the Deputies orders and then turned and began to swing the cane aggressively while walking towards the Deputy. After repeated attempts to reason with the Defendant, and cycling of the same behaviors, the Deputy attempted to tase the Defendant. The tase was unsuccessful due to the bulk of the Defendants winter coat. The Defendant was then physically restrained by another responding deputy.
