Celebrity chef Justin Sutherland charged with threats of violence against girlfriend in St. Paul

July 2, 2024

Ramsey County prosecutors charged celebrity chef Justin Sutherland Monday with pointing a gun at his girlfriend and threatening her, however his legal professional mentioned that by no means occurred nor was there any bodily assault.

Sutherland’s girlfriend advised police that in an argument on Friday, he “grabbed her neck with each arms and squeezed for roughly 5 to 6 seconds,” in response to a legal criticism charging Sutherland with one felony. “Whereas strangling her, Sutherland mentioned, ‘I might kill you.’”

The 24-year-old lady known as her sister and Sutherland, 39, ripped the telephone from her hand and broke it on the counter, so the lady ran to a neighbor’s home to make use of the telephone, the criticism mentioned.

When she walked again to the home, Sutherland was standing within the again door with a handgun pointed at her, made a remark about her “speaking to their racist neighbors” and mentioned, “Take two extra steps. I dare you,” the criticism continued.

The girl mentioned she slowly walked towards Sutherland as a result of he nonetheless had the gun pointed at her, and he advised her, “I’m not kidding. I’ll shoot you. That is my property,” in response to the criticism. The girl mentioned she knocked the gun from Sutherland’s hand.

Legal professional John Daly, who’s representing Sutherland, mentioned the criticism is “riddled with lies” and he mentioned Sutherland is “wanting ahead to the reality popping out.” There was an argument between the couple “that didn’t contain bodily violence in any way,” he mentioned throughout Sutherland’s first court docket look Monday morning. A buddy of Sutherland’s who was current mentioned he didn’t see a gun, in response to the criticism and Daly.

The one conviction on Sutherland’s document is a 2008 DWI cost, Minnesota court docket information present. He has no historical past of assaultive conduct, in response to Daly.

“Justin Sutherland is a staple within the culinary neighborhood,” Daly mentioned exterior of court docket. “The particular person he’s on TV is the particular person he’s: heat, caring and compassionate.”

Legal criticism: Damaged telephone, menace

Police responded Friday, simply after 8 p.m., after a 911 caller reported he noticed an individual with a gun enter a vacant constructing on the again door. He later advised police that “he noticed a feminine standing along with her arms within the air with a glance of worry on her face” and noticed a person strolling towards the constructing’s again door with a firearm in his hand, the criticism mentioned.

One other particular person contacted police and mentioned she was Facetiming along with her sister, and her sister mentioned her boyfriend was making an attempt to kill her. The girl mentioned she heard the male inform her sister, “I want you have been useless proper now,” the criticism mentioned. She mentioned she noticed Sutherland slam her sister’s telephone down after which she might not attain her sister. Police later discovered the damaged telephone, the criticism mentioned.

An officer noticed a person, recognized as Sutherland, stroll out of the again of the deal with and advised him to place his arms on his head. Sutherland screamed, “I known as 911 and (you’re) making an attempt to (expletive) arrest me?” the criticism mentioned, including that he yelled “racially derogatory remarks on the officer” however complied with verbal instructions and was taken into custody.

One other man who got here out of the constructing advised police he’s Sutherland’s finest buddy. He mentioned the constructing at Entrance Avenue and Milton Avenue, in St. Paul’s Como neighborhood, is a spot that Sutherland is planning to show right into a restaurant. Sutherland and his girlfriend moved into the constructing per week earlier and have been residing within the onsite condo.

Sutherland and the lady have been in a relationship for over a 12 months, however the argument was between individuals who have been on the finish of their relationship, Daly mentioned.

The girl advised police that they argued as a result of he advised her they have been not going to a music pageant, and that Sutherland was upset about neighbors being racist towards him and he or she believed he “took his anger out on her,” the criticism mentioned. She reported “ongoing verbal abuse from Sutherland, and that he could be violent when indignant,” the criticism mentioned, including that she reported he broke her automobile windshield two days earlier.

Weapons have been his grandfather’s

Sutherland’s finest buddy mentioned Sutherland texted him Friday and mentioned he and his girlfriend had a struggle earlier within the day, so he was going to take a stroll. Whereas on his solution to St. Paul, he mentioned Sutherland known as and screamed that his girlfriend went to the “racist neighbor” about him and Sutherland mentioned one thing to the impact of, “If I have to get my weapons, I’ll,” the criticism mentioned.

Daly mentioned in court docket that Sutherland was in worry of the neighbor as a result of he flew a Accomplice flag and had beforehand used a racial epithet.

In the meantime, Sutherland’s buddy mentioned he advised Sutherland to not do something together with his weapons. He mentioned when he arrived and walked inside, Sutherland and the lady have been screaming at one another and making an attempt to struggle, so he “needed to bodily get in the course of them and push them aside,” the criticism continued.

Police carried out a search warrant on the deal with and located a gun case on high of the mattress with two firearms inside. Police positioned eight extra firearms, which additionally they collected. Police noticed what gave the impression to be “a blood-like substance” on one of many weapons and Sutherland’s arms had blood on them when police had contact with him, the criticism mentioned.

Many of the firearms are Sutherland’s grandfather’s and are household heirlooms, Daly mentioned. Ramsey County Decide Nicole Starr ordered that Sutherland give up his firearms whereas the case is ongoing, and Daly mentioned they might have them transferred to his household.

About 90 minutes earlier than police went to the Entrance Avenue deal with, they’d been known as to the identical location, the criticism additionally mentioned. Sutherland’s girlfriend known as 911 and reported her boyfriend choked her and was making an attempt to kick her out of the condo; she was crying and wouldn’t present his title “as a result of she didn’t need to get anybody in bother,” the criticism mentioned.

Officers spoke with Sutherland’s girlfriend then, who mentioned they “had a disagreement about one thing silly,” they “have been in one another’s faces” and he pushed her within the higher chest, however she mentioned she was wonderful and didn’t want police help, in response to the criticism.

Daly mentioned it was Sutherland, not his girlfriend, who made the sooner name to police.

Launched from jail

After Sutherland’s arrest, an investigator went to speak to him on the Ramsey County jail. He requested what he was being charged with. He was advised he was being held on threats of violence and assault. “Sutherland mentioned that was a lie and requested a lawyer,” the criticism mentioned.

The Ramsey County Legal professional’s Workplace charged Sutherland with threatening to commit against the law of violence in reckless disregard of the danger.

Assistant Ramsey County Legal professional Ann Kahn requested bail be set at $50,000 or $25,000 with circumstances. She mentioned there have been security considerations due to the allegations within the criticism that Sutherland was threatening his girlfriend with a firearm, that he threatened to kill her, and that 10 firearms have been discovered on the deal with.

Daly mentioned the allegations within the criticism weren’t true. He mentioned Sutherland’s buddy advised them that the lady has eliminated all of her belongings from the deal with, and their relationship is over.

“These are critical allegations,” Decide Starr mentioned, however she added that she takes into consideration that they’re allegations. Based mostly on Sutherland’s DWI case being far previously and prior situations of Sutherland returning to court docket, Starr launched Sutherland with out having to publish bail. His subsequent court docket look is scheduled for August.

The St. Paul chef has been featured on “Iron Chef,” “Quick Foodies,” “Prime Chef,” “Style the Tradition” and a choose on a number of different food-focused TV reveals and discuss reveals similar to “Good Morning America.” He’s a Meals Community “Iron Chef” winner and season finalist on “Prime Chef.” He is also the writer of a cookbook, “Northern Soul,” and received an Emmy for “Style the Tradition.”

He opened his first restaurant, Good-looking Hog, in St. Paul’s Lowertown. Sutherland is not affiliated with that restaurant however owns Big E, an egg sandwich store on Grand Avenue.

Earlier this 12 months, he introduced he was going to assist reopen the beloved Rondo community restaurant Golden Thyme Espresso and Cafe. Sutherland and his dad, Kerry Sutherland, are partnering with the nonprofit Rondo Group Land Belief to open the restaurant.