A Duluth man punched a bystander outside an apartment building and threatened to kill officers and their families after police responded to a disturbance, according to charges.
Vito Reymundo Munoz, 24, faces charges of threats of violence and fifth-degree assault.
According to the complaint, officers were dispatched to Town View Villas in Duluth on September 10 after a 911 caller reported that “Vito” had been the aggressor in a domestic dispute and had pulled a knife on someone. When officers arrived, a person standing outside directed them toward an entry door. As officers approached, Munoz burst out of the building and began punching the bystander.
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Officers, with help from another person nearby, subdued Munoz and placed him in handcuffs. While officers attempted to speak with Munoz about the assault and the earlier 911 call, he repeatedly interrupted the Miranda Warning. The arresting officer returned to the scene to gather more information from witnesses.
While Munoz was in the back of the squad vehicle, he began threatening officers standing nearby, addressing them by name or badge number. The complaint details threats such as, “Number what? 57? Oh you’re done. Your kids are done,” and, “When I get out I’m hunting for y’all a**.” Munoz also threatened a female officer, saying, “I’ll find your b****-a**, and I will kill you, b****.”
When the arresting officer returned to the squad to transport Munoz to jail, Munoz told the officer he would try to get sent to the hospital and escape from there. He also said that if sent to NERCC, he had family who would help him leave the area.
During transport, Munoz continued to threaten the arresting officer, including, “When I find you and your girlfriend, n, I’m gonna slump you, I promise you that,” and, “Just wait til I get out in two weeks, I’ll come find you on Rice Lake Road, waiting.”
The complaint states Munoz was arrested at the scene. The charges were filed Friday in Saint Louis County District Court.
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
Saint Louis County is Minnesota’s largest county by area, stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border. The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the Sixth Judicial District; cases are heard at the Saint Louis County Courthouse in Duluth and the Virginia courthouse for cases north of the iron range.
