A St. Paul woman was charged with assault Tuesday after authorities say she attacked a police officer with a screwdriver and kitchen knife.
Officer Joe Ryan stopped Articia Latroyce Moore, 23, as she was leaving the Lunds & Byerlys grocery store in downtown St. Paul on Monday evening after a store employee informed him that Moore had items hidden in her pants and jacket, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court.
Ryan, who was off duty and providing security at the store, told Moore that he wouldn’t issue her a citation for the theft but said she needed to return the items, the complaint said.
Moore reportedly denied stealing anything, but the officer could see items under her clothing.
Eventually, she handed over a drink but became “uncooperative” when the officer asked her to return the rest of the goods, the complaint said.
That’s when Ryan noticed what looked like the handle of a black knife in Moore’s pocket, and grabbed her arm.
Moore wrestled her arm free and pulled out a screwdriver and swung it overhead at the officer’s chest, the complaint said.
A struggle ensued, and at one point Moore pulled out a black-handled kitchen knife and cut Ryan on his left upper arm, according to the complaint.
Officers found the knife and screwdriver near the scene, according to the complaint.
Ryan suffered a superficial cut to his arm, but avoided an injury to his chest because the blade failed to penetrate his armored vest, police said.
Moore was arrested and declined to provide a statement to officers.
She was charged Tuesday with one count of second-degree assault and a second count of fourth-degree assault against a police officer. She is expected to make her first court appearance on the charges Wednesday.
No attorney was listed for her in court records.
The incident wasn’t the first time Moore has become combative with St. Paul police recently, according to spokesman Steve Linders.
At a downtown St. Paul homeless shelter on Aug. 21, Moore punched an officer in the face and repeatedly threatened to bite and kick officers while being taken into custody, Linders said.
She was subsequently convicted of obstructing the legal process.
Moore was arrested for obstructing the legal process a second time Aug. 31 after officers were called to stop her from harassing people near Sixth and Wacouta streets in downtown, Linders said. That case is pending.
