A Saint Paul man armed with an axe and a long pole threatened to kill two tenants and destroyed property inside an apartment after kicking in a door and striking a resident in the face, according to charges.
Walter Ernest Taylor, 41, faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, threats of violence and first-degree damage to property.
According to the complaint, Saint Paul police responded to a 4th-floor apartment at about 3:13 a.m. on August 31, 2026, after a report that a man with an axe was yelling and trying to break down a door. Officers arrived to find Taylor in the hallway, still holding the axe and a long pole and took him into custody.
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The victim told police he had been asleep in his apartment when he heard pounding on his door. After opening the door, the victim saw Taylor holding an axe and yelling incoherently. The victim said Taylor motioned with the axe as if he was going to strike him, prompting the victim to close the door. Taylor then began striking the door repeatedly with the axe.
The complaint states Taylor argued with a neighbor and then struck the neighbor’s door with the axe before returning to the victim’s door. Taylor kicked in the door, causing it to hit the victim in the face, then forced his way inside and destroyed property with the axe. The victim suffered a laceration to the right side of his face.
A staff member at the building provided police with the victim footage of the incident and told officers he tried to intervene to deescalate the situation. According to the staff member, Taylor threatened to kill both tenants and said he would cut off their hands. Police reviewed the surveillance footage and observed damage consistent with the victim’s account.
The cost to repair the damage Taylor caused is estimated to exceed $1,000, according to court documents. He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, September 30.
Taylor is scheduled to appear in Ramsey County court on September 30, 2026.
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 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.
