A man sprayed an unknown substance in a North Saint Paul apartment hallway, making it difficult for residents and officers to breathe and later cut an officer’s hand with a box cutter during his arrest, according to the complaint.
Todd Anthony Prokop, 65, faces two felony charges: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and fourth-degree assault of a peace officer resulting in demonstrable bodily harm. The charges were filed October 28 in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers were called to an apartment building in North Saint Paul at about 7:40 a.m. on October 28 after a resident reported harassment by her neighbor, identified as Prokop. The victim told officers she had recently moved in and that her interactions with Prokop had been normal until a few weeks earlier, when she declined his offer of a bunk bed for her children.
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She said Prokop had threatened to shoot a man during a verbal altercation on October 24, for which he was cited for disorderly conduct.
On the morning of October 28, the victim said she found a mattress placed in front of her door and noticed an unknown substance sprayed in the hallway, making it hard to breathe. Officers arriving at the scene also had difficulty breathing and called the fire department to ventilate the building. The victim told officers she was fearful for her and her children’s safety.
Officers attempted to speak with Prokop at his apartment and told him he would receive citations for disorderly conduct and for intentionally releasing a harmful substance. Prokop unlocked his door and said, “The door is unlocked,” but only partially opened it. When an officer forced the door open further, he saw Prokop reaching for the stock of a green rifle on the floor.
The officer warned Prokop not to reach for the gun again and Prokop responded that it was a ghost gun before retreating into his apartment.
Prokop then began throwing clothing, used cat litter and broken furniture into the hallway. Officers repeatedly asked him to come out empty-handed, but he ignored them. Officers obtained a search warrant to enter and arrest Prokop. When they announced their intent to enter, Prokop fled into the bathroom and tried to shut the door. Officers saw that Prokop had a box cutter with an exposed blade wrapped around his hand with a rubber band.
During the struggle to arrest him, Prokop tried to grab sharp items from the sink area. Officers disarmed and arrested him, but not before Prokop cut an officer’s hand with the box cutter. The officer’s injury was not serious, according to the complaint.
Prokop is currently at the hospital on a mental health hold, the complaint says.
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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.
