A man prohibited from possessing firearms sent threatening messages and a photo of a handgun to the victim in New Brighton, then was arrested with a loaded gun in her vehicle, according to the complaint.
Paris Dajon Allen, 47, faces two counts of possessing a firearm or ammunition after a conviction for a crime of violence and one count of threats of violence, according to charges filed October 28 in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, New Brighton police responded to an apartment building on 10th Street Northwest at about 10:58 p.m. on October 25 after the victim reported receiving threatening text messages from Allen. The messages included threats and a photo of a black handgun on a person’s lap, with the person wearing black jeans.
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One message referenced making the news and included a threat of violence. The victim told police she was afraid for her safety and said Allen had a key to her apartment but did not live there, though he stayed there occasionally.
The complaint states Allen left the apartment in the victim’s black Dodge Charger, prompting police to place an alert on the vehicle. The next day, detectives received an alert that the Dodge Charger was driving east on County Road E2. Detectives found the vehicle unoccupied and illegally parked at the apartment building. Shortly after, the victim called dispatch to report Allen was at her door and trying to get inside, possibly with a four-year-old child.
Officers saw Allen walking toward the Dodge Charger with the child, placed the child in the rear passenger seat and got into the driver’s seat himself. Officers made contact and arrested Allen. During a search of the vehicle, detectives found a loaded black Taurus PT140 G2 .40 caliber handgun under the front passenger seat. The victim confirmed she is the registered owner of the Dodge Charger.
After being advised of his rights, Allen told a detective he is a level 3 offender and acknowledged sending the victim a message about rape, but claimed she misunderstood it. He admitted sending a text about kicking her door down and said he was frustrated and trying to scare her.
Allen said the gun in the photo was fake and that he had purchased fake firearms online, but later confirmed the gun found in the Dodge Charger was the same one he photographed and sent to the victim. He admitted knowing the firearm was real and that his DNA would be on it and acknowledged he is not supposed to possess a firearm.
The complaint says he has a prior felony conviction.
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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; Ramsey County Community Corrections operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
