A Saint Paul man forced his way into a relative’s home, assaulted a man with his fists and a wooden chair and left a woman and child fleeing in fear, prosecutors say.
Daniel Joseph Hillmer, 38, faces charges of 1st-degree burglary and three counts of 5th-degree assault, according to a complaint filed Thursday in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, crisis workers went to check on Hillmer at a Saint Paul residence on July 28, 2026, after concerns about his mental health. When two workers entered the home, Hillmer yelled at them to leave, followed them outside and used a purse strap to push one of them to the ground, calling her a vulgar name before running away. The victim told officers she was afraid of Hillmer, and medics treated her for a knee injury from the fall.
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Officers arrested Hillmer later that day when he returned to the victim’s home. He was released from jail the next day. At about 2:30 p.m. on July 29, officers responded to another Saint Paul address for a reported assault. A woman told police she was in her kitchen when someone kicked open her front door. She saw Hillmer standing inside, screaming and pointing at her.
Fearing for her safety, she grabbed her young child and fled the home. She told officers she believed Hillmer came to confront her for calling police the previous day and said his behavior frightened her, adding that he has assaulted her in the past.
The woman’s boyfriend told police he was in a bedroom when he heard her scream. He came out and saw Hillmer inside the house. Hillmer immediately charged him, punching and kicking him multiple times and striking him with a wooden chair. The victim said Hillmer hit him more than 20 times before leaving. Officers observed a laceration above the victim’s right eye and blood on his shirt and hands.
Shortly after, officers learned Hillmer had been stabbed at another Saint Paul location. At 3:26 p.m., officers found Hillmer shirtless and covered in blood from several lacerations. Hillmer told officers his “boss” stabbed him but refused to provide a name. A witness reported seeing Hillmer punch another man, leading to a fight on the ground.
The other man told police Hillmer knocked him off his bike and continued to attack even after being stabbed. He said he feared for his life and tried to avoid vital organs when using the knife. Medics transported Hillmer to the hospital, where he punched a medic while inside the ambulance. Officers and medics restrained him on the gurney.
The complaint notes Hillmer has five prior felony convictions, including assault in the 4th degree, felon in possession of a firearm, assault in the 1st degree, burglary in the 1st degree and assault in the 3rd degree. The assaults and burglary are classified as violent crimes under Minnesota law.
The charges were filed Thursday. A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from gross-misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Ramsey County encompasses Saint Paul and is served by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Felony cases are heard in the Second Judicial District at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown Saint Paul; the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
