Blaine man charged with threatening Gov. Walz

A Blaine man has been charged after he allegedly left a threatening message for Gov. Tim Walz.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said 51-year-old Shawn Peter Simonson is charged with one count of threats of violence.

A criminal complaint states a message left on the public line at the State Capitol on Aug. 2 at 3:01 p.m. threatened Walz, saying, "Let me tell you something about that $6 million building you bought, that refrigerated building that you bought that is standing empty. Your (expletive) dead body is going to be the only body in that building. We’re going to put your dead body in that building and then we’re gonna burn it down. (expletive)."

Investigators traced the phone number for the incoming message and found it was listed to Simonson. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Fusion Center noted that another trooper had previous contact with Simonson on April 7 for similar threats.

On Aug. 4, a trooper contacted Simonson and said he was investigating the threatening message. The complaint states Simonson acknowledged he left the message and said, "I wasn’t thinking straight when I said those stupid things." He added that he’s "no threat" and "is frustrated about the virus and the riots," saying he doesn’t feel he’s allowed to voice his opinion on Facebook because he gets banned when he does.

The complaint adds that Simonson apologized and said he needs to work on his "anger management."

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both if convicted.