Minnesota police investigate after GOP candidate allegedly threatened, nearly run over while campaigning

Minnesota police are investigating an incident during which a Republican candidate operating for U.S. Congress was allegedly threatened whereas she was out campaigning door-to-door this week. 

In an replace offered Wednesday, the Faribault Police Division, which serves town roughly 50 miles south of Minneapolis, stated investigators have recognized a suspect within the incident involving Jennifer Carnahan, who served three phrases as chair of the Minnesota Republican Celebration from 2017 to 2021. 

The widow of former U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died this February after a battle with most cancers, Carnahan is operating on this yr’s particular election to complete the remainder of her late husband’s time period. 

SEARCH FOR UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA STUDENT CONTINUES NEAR MISSISSIPPI RIVER 

“As we speak’s occasions remind me how essential it’s we take our nation again from the novel left, in addition to restore the rule of legislation in Minnesota and throughout the nation,” Carnahan stated in an announcement following Tuesday’s incident. “The unlucky occasions of at this time won’t deter me from persevering with to combat for the folks of southern Minnesota and to place America First.”

Faribault officers had been dispatched at roughly 5:25 p.m. Tuesday to a criticism of a menace.  

Jim Hagedorn campaigning in La Crescent, Minnesota, on Sept. 16, 2018.
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Name)

Carnahan advised officers that she was going door to door to marketing campaign for Congress when she was approached within the 1000 block of 1st Avenue SE by a person who made a number of threatening feedback to her, in keeping with the police division’s preliminary press launch concerning the incident. 

The candidate additionally reported that the person, described as a White male between the ages of 18 and 20 years previous, swerved his blue Ford Focus at her as she walked away, police stated. 

Jennifer Carnahan, chair of the Republican Celebration of Minnesota, mingles at a Republican gubernatorial discussion board in Waconia, Minn., July 19, 2017.
(Scott Takushi/MediaNews Group/St. Paul Pioneer Press through Getty Photographs)

Faribault Police Chief John Sherwin condemned the habits as “unacceptable” and initially pleaded for help from witnesses or anybody with extra info to assist establish the suspect concerned and his car. Police stated Wednesday the division was now not looking for info relating to the identification or the suspect’s car, explaining that detectives recognized and contacted him at his dwelling within the Faribault space Tuesday night. The investigation stays lively Wednesday. 

Describing what occurred in an announcement shared to her Fb web page, Carnahan stated she was door knocking within the metropolis of Faribault when “one thing very scary occurred to me,” describing how “shaking in rage,” a younger man “swore at me and threatened me – telling me my life was not protected on the streets.” 

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“Minutes later he bought in his automobile, drove at what seemed to be an accelerated pace for a residential highway, accelerated and swerved towards me as I used to be strolling on the road,” Carnahan stated. 

“I fortunately suffered no hurt, instantly referred to as 911, filed a police report and plan to pursue all applicable costs towards this particular person,” she added. “I sincerely thank the women and men of the Faribault Police Division and 911 name facilities for responding instantly, serving to me by a really scary encounter and all our legislation enforcement officers do to maintain us protected.”