A South Saint Paul man handed off a handgun to a woman and physically resisted officers trying to detain him during a fight in a crowded residential area, prosecutors say.
Officers responded to a report of a fight involving multiple people on Camber Avenue in South Saint Paul on Saturday, September 5. According to the complaint, officers arrived to find two people walking away from the scene and identified themselves as police, ordering both to stop several times.
Dajon Doral Gregory, 32, faces three charges: obstructing legal process with knowledge of risk of death or substantial bodily harm, obstructing legal process by force or threat of force and possession of a pistol without a permit.
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The complaint states that one of the people, an adult woman, walked toward officers and said they had nothing to do with the fight. Gregory, meanwhile, quickly walked away from officers and was seen concealing an item in his right hand or the front waistband of his pants. When an officer tried to stop him by placing her hand on his arm, Gregory physically shook her off.
As officers attempted to detain him, Gregory directed the woman to take an item from him, reaching toward his left hip. He then handed her a handgun while continuing to physically resist officers, according to court documents. Officers reported that Gregory tried to pull away, pulled his arms further into his sweatshirt sleeves and generally resisted their efforts to detain him.
Gregory was eventually placed in handcuffs. The struggle took place in a crowded public area next to several residences, with multiple people outside, including children. The complaint notes that anyone nearby could have been injured if the handgun had discharged during the struggle. Officers later determined that Gregory did not have a permit to carry a handgun.
The charges allege Gregory obstructed officers by physically resisting and by handing off a handgun during the encounter, creating a risk of harm to people nearby. He is also charged with possessing a pistol without a permit.
The complaint does not reference any prior criminal history for Gregory.
The charges were filed Wednesday, September 9 in Dakota County District Court. Gregory is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
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
Dakota County, immediately south of Saint Paul, is Minnesota’s third-largest county by population. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the First Judicial District; cases are heard at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.
