Kidnapping, Beating Lands Oakdale Suspect Back in Ramsey County Court

An Oakdale man is facing multiple charges after an incident last year in which he allegedly threatened, beat and then kidnapped a woman who was turning him in to local authorities.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Thursday that Brian J. Mehlhorn, 30, jumped out a car that raced in and parked in the woman’s older brother’s parking lot. According to court records, he grabbed the woman by the hair, while wielding a knife, and pushed her into the waiting car.

The woman told police Mehlhorn, who is currently in custody on an unrelated offense, knew she had talked to police about his criminal activity, and wanted her to get her “story straight.”

Among the charges filed last week against Mehlhorn is a count of felony kidnapping. Police have footage from a service station and convenience store about a mile from the apartment, which is where the woman alleges Mehlhorn and an accomplice attacked the woman, wanting her to change her testimony to authorities, the complaint states.

The kidnapping ended when Mehlhorn and his accomplice got into an argument over some baseball tickets, the complaint continues.

The Pioneer press said Mehlhorn could be charged as a result of that encounter, as his accomplice was checked into a hospital later that morning with a stab wound. The Oakdale Police Department is investigating that incident separately from the alleged kidnapping.

Mehlhorn does have a prior arrest in Oakdale. He turned himself in two years ago on controlled substance possession charges.

He has an extensive list of other arrests and convictions around the East Metro, including Stillwater, Cottage Grove and West St. Paul. His priors include everyhing from driving under the influence to burglary. 

He is also facing burglary and auto theft charges in Stillwater for a December 2012 incident in Stillwater.