A Saint Paul police officer was stabbed to death by a homeless woman Monday night after he offered to give her a break for allegedly lifting herself from a grocery store, according to a report.
Officer Joe Ryan approached the woman about 1 p.m. after store employees told him a woman had hidden items in her clothes without paying for them, the Star Tribune reported. He offered to let her return the stolen items without penalty, according to the paper.
The woman – later identified as 23-year-old Articia L. Moore – denied having stolen anything, though Ryan allegedly could see the hidden items. She then returned a single item. Ryan asked her to return the rest.
The woman explained she was homeless and became cooperative, The Tribune reported. Ryan grabbed his arm after allegedly seeing a knife handle in his pocket.
A shock occurred and the woman allegedly hit Ryan in the chest with a screwdriver and in the arm with a knife, according to a criminal complaint. Ryan brought her under control and arrested her.
Ryan’s vest protected him from the screwdriver while his left bicep had a minor cut, according to prosecutors.
Moore was indicted Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court for second-degree assault and assault by a police officer.