Crime, Law and Justice

Maplewood woman charged for allegedly stabbing police officer

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office filed attempted murder and assault charges Thursday against a Maplewood woman for allegedly stabbing a police officer.

According to the complaint, on July 21, at 11:45 a.m., Sgt. Anthony Gabriel responded to a report that a woman had been “threatening staff and stealing merchandise” at a CVS store on White Bear Avenue.

Prosecutors said Jowharah Bilal, 48, told Gabriel that she was the subject of the call and attacked Gabriel with a knife after he told her she was under arrest.

The complaint also says a man who identified himself as Bilal’s son intervened and tried to take the knife away from her after the stabbing but she allegedly continued to fight with him and other officers.

Police said it took “more than five officers and multiple uses of an incapacitation device to subdue her.”

The man also said Bilal has “experienced mental health issues for many years but refuses to seek treatment.”

Gabriel was treated at a hospital for a stab wound to his left shoulder and was released the following day.