Eagan Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Police Officer

An Eagan man has been charged with making terroristic threats, disarming a police officer and obstructing the legal process after an early-morning incident in Eagan on July 17.

Travis Aaron Monahan, 26, faces felony charges of making terroristic threats, attempting to disarm a peace officer and obstructing the legal process, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He is also charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, a petty misdemeanor.

According to the criminal complaint, a patrol officer in Eagan spotted Monahan sitting on the sidewalk on Wescott Road near Denmark Avenue about 2:15 a.m. on July 17. A woman nearby was waving her arms, trying to get the officer’s attention.

When the officer arrived, Monahan got up and began yelling and gesturing at the officer, who was shining a light in his direction from the squad car, the complaint says. He put his hands quickly into his pockets, and became more agitated as the officer approached, according to the complaint.

The woman who had flagged down the officer was yelling something unintelligible, and both the woman and Monahan were “visibly agitated” and appeared very upset, the complaint says.

As the officer got out of his car, Monahan became more agitated and began yelling obscenities, the complaint says. He yelled, “Take me to jail!” as the woman also continued yelling, and both moved closer to the officer, according to the complaint.

The officer told Monahan and the woman to calm down and told Monahan to take his hands out of his pockets, but Monahan didn’t comply, the complaint says. The officer took hold of Monahan’s left arm and told him to put his hands behind his back, but he began pulling away and twisting his body, the complaint says.

The woman, now less than an arm’s length away from the officer, continued yelling, and the officer smelled alcohol coming from one or both of them, according to the complaint. When Monahan continued to resist, the officer put him on the ground and handcuffed him while the woman got into the officer’s face and yelled at him, the complaint says.

When the officer left Monahan to deal with the woman, Monahan stood up and “violently charged the officer,” the complaint says. The officer countered with a closed fist to the left side of Monahan’s face, then grabbed him and held him with one arm.

As the officer held Monahan, he felt something being tugged on the right side of his gun belt and saw both of Monahan’s hands on his gun. Monahan continued flailing and twisting his body, yelling, “I’m going to kill you and your family!” at the officer, according to the complaint.

The officer used his flashlight to “deliver multiple strikes” to Monahan to gain control, the complaint says. As he held Monahan on the ground, he was holding the woman’s arm to keep her from attacking him.

When backup squad cars arrived, Monahan became quiet for about 20 seconds, and the officer asked if he was all right. At that point, he threatened again to kill the officer and his family, according to the complaint.

While searching Monahan, officers found a bag of marijuana.

Monahan is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charges against him Aug. 29 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.