A man sleeping in the back of his own truck on White Bear Avenue woke after a stranger knocked on the windows, then entered the cab armed with a pocketknife and threatening to kill him. Eric Joshua Jennings, 38, of Minneapolis now faces first-degree aggravated robbery and threats-of-violence charges stemming from the October 17 encounter, which police say escalated from a theft into a search for Jennings and a confrontation at a Saint Paul intersection involving a concrete paver, a second knife and a string of homophobic slurs.
According to a criminal complaint cited by mncrime.com, Saint Paul police officers responded at about 5:13 p.m. that Saturday to a reported assault near White Bear Avenue North and Montana Avenue. The victim told officers he had been sleeping in the rear of the cab of his red Ford F-150 when Jennings allegedly climbed in through an unlocked driver-side door. Jennings grabbed the victim's vehicle keys off the front seat, took his cell phone, and held a pocketknife while making threats, the complaint states.
Jennings allegedly told the victim they were going to drive somewhere, warning him, “you better calm the f*** down,” and later threatening, “I'm gonna kill your sissy a** if you don't shut the f*** up and let me get to where I need to get to.” He also threatened to slice the victim's throat if he moved and to stab him if he tried to leave, per the complaint. The victim reportedly threatened to punch Jennings if he didn't get out of the truck, and Jennings eventually pulled over and fled on foot after taking the victim's belongings.
A Search Turns Into a Street Confrontation
The victim told police he began searching for his stolen phone and eventually found Jennings on White Bear Avenue. That's when, according to the complaint, Jennings approached and hit the victim several times in the face, head and buttocks, leaving him with two knots on his forehead and a fresh abrasion on his left palm. The victim reported that Jennings stole about $50 in cash along with his cell phone during the overall encounter.
A witness told investigators they saw Jennings grab a brown concrete paver and smash it into the side of the truck, breaking the window, the complaint says. A separate witness reported seeing Jennings carrying a yellow-bladed knife while threatening people at an intersection. When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found tire marks in the grass, black auto glass and a brown paver left behind.
Arrest and Alleged Statements to Police
Officers located Jennings at White Bear Avenue and Nebraska Avenue, where he had a folding knife that he placed on the ground before being taken into custody, according to the complaint. During the arrest, Jennings allegedly told officers he wanted to die by cop and made several homophobic slurs about the victim. A search of Jennings also reportedly turned up a small plastic baggie containing shards of a crystal-like substance.
Charges and What Comes Next
Prosecutors filed the first-degree aggravated robbery and threats-of-violence charges against Jennings on October 19 in Ramsey County District Court, per the mncrime.com report. Under the cited Minnesota statute, Sec. 609.245, first-degree aggravated robbery can carry up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000. The threats-of-violence charge, tied to reckless disregard for the risk of causing terror, falls under Sec. 609.713, which allows for up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The case record notes that the allegations stem from a criminal complaint and that Jennings, like any defendant, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Details on Jennings's attorney, bond status, upcoming court dates and the substance found in his possession have not been made public.
