Chief Justin Sutherland pleads guilty to violent threats after domestic dispute

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – St. Paul Chief Justin Sutherland pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to one count of threats of violence in connection with an incident involving a domestic dispute in June.

What we know

A plea agreement reached Oct. 21 calls for two years of probation in addition to completing 100 hours of community service. Sutherland will also undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and be prohibited from possessing a firearm.

A sentencing date is currently scheduled for December 13, 2024.

Domestic conflict

On June 28, 2024, officers with the St. Paul Police Department responded to the 800 block of Front Avenue around 8 p.m. after a report of a man with a gun outside an address there.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman told police that Sutherland pointed a gun and swore to shoot her, choked her and hit her in the chest with the gun. Police later determined he was not currently in possession of a weapon.

Police say they then spoke to Sutherland and the woman involved in the incident and established that a domestic assault as well as threats of violence had occurred.