MN Woman Faces Attempted Murder Charge After Officer Stabbed

Maplewood, MN (MinnesotaNow) - A Twin Cities woman has been charged with first-degree attempted murder of a police officer.

Maplewood Police Officer Attacked Outside CVS

A criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County court also charges 48-year-old Jowharah Jannah Bilal of Maplewood with first-degree assault for allegedly stabbing a police officer. The court document says the attack on the officer occurred outside a CVS store in Maplewood around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Report of Woman Threatening Employees and Stealing Merchandise

According to the charges, the officer was dispatched to the business on a report that a female customer was threatening staff and stealing merchandise. The 911 caller indicated that employees had managed to lock the woman out of the store.

Allegedly Attacked Officer With Knife

When the officer arrived, he reported that he approached a woman matching the description of the suspect. While they were in the middle of a conversation, "she suddenly pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed at him, striking him in the shoulder area." The criminal complaint says a witness came to the officer's assistance and pulled the knife away from her.

The officer was transported to a hospital for treatment of his wounds. He was discharged on Wednesday to continue his recovery at home.

Continued Assault After Officer Fell to Ground

The court document describes how the officer fell against a parked car after he was stabbed and how Bilal continued the attack by repeatedly stabbing at his torso while he was on the ground. Maplewood police reported that it eventually took more than five officers and multiple uses of "an incapacitation device" to subdue her.

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The witness who assisted the officer was identified in the court document as the woman's adult son. The criminal complaint states that he told investigators that his mother has experienced mental health issues for many years but refuses to seek treatment.

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Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken

Filed Under: assault, attempted murder, Crime, Ramsey County, stabbing, Twin Cities

Categories: State News