A Saint Paul woman threatened to blow up a women’s group home, turned on two gas stoves and left the building, prompting calls to police and Saint Paul Fire, according to charges.
Joanne Lajuan Morris, 43, faces four felony charges: attempted first-degree arson, releasing a harmful substance creating a risk of death, bodily harm or property damage, threats of violence with reckless disregard for risk and threats of violence involving explosives or incendiary devices. The charges were filed Thursday, September 3 in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers responded to a disturbance at a women’s group home on the east side of Saint Paul at about 5:04 p.m. on August 25. A staff member told police that Morris, a resident, became upset after being told she could not get a PlayStation gaming system. The staff member said Morris had mental health issues and had been threatening other residents.
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The group home’s director told officers that after Morris was denied the PlayStation purchase, she appeared agitated. About an hour and a half later, Morris walked by the director’s office and said, “I’ll blow this place up.” The director reported that Morris then entered the kitchen and stayed there for about an hour and a half, with no one else present.
After Morris left the kitchen, staff detected a strong smell of gas and discovered that the gas stoves had been turned on. Staff turned off the stoves and called Saint Paul Fire. Surveillance footage showed that only Morris entered the kitchen before the gas odor was detected, according to court documents.
Investigators attempted to contact Morris by phone and left her voicemail messages. Morris responded with several voicemails, including statements such as, “You stupid f****** b****, when the f*** are you available while you calling my f****** phone and your m************ s*** ain’t ringing when I call back, b****? All my enemies deserve a casket, b****.” In another message, Morris said, “I hear death knocking at the door, but he ain’t knocking for me.”
On September 1, Morris returned to the group home, where officers took her into custody. In a post-Miranda interview, Morris said she was angry when staff denied her request for a PlayStation but denied intentionally turning on the gas burners or making threats to destroy the property. She told police the incident was a misunderstanding.
Morris was ordered held on $50,000 bail, according to the complaint.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s threats-of-violence statute is § 609.713. A conviction is a felony carrying up to five years in prison when the threat is directed at intimidating a person or causing serious public alarm. Harassment and stalking charges live separately under § 609.749.
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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.
