Eagan Woman Accused Of Threatening Neighbors With Machete

EAGAN, MN— An Eagan woman is facing charges of threats of violence and first-degree criminal property damage after officials alleged that she threatened her neighbors with a machete, according to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota's 1st Judicial District Court.

If found guilty, Kathryn Sun Joyce, 32 of Eagan, could serve up to five years in prison and/or pay a fee of up to $10,000, the complaint said.

Officials said that Thursday at 4:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to Meadowlark Court, where they were told of a disturbance. When they got there, they saw Joyce screaming, according to the complaint.

Later, when officers spoke with an employee for the area’s internet and telephone service, the employee told them that Joyce damaged a utility box earlier that day, leaving 50-60 people without service, the complaint said. The employee said it would cost $10,000 to repair the utility box, according to the complaint.

Officers later spoke with a resident who said they saw Joyce open the utility box and cut the wires, the complaint said.

Officers were called again to Meadowlark Court Friday morning. When officers spoke to the people who had called, the residents said that they were Joyce’s neighbors. The neighbors said they left their home two day ago because they were scared of Joyce, the complaint said. The neighbors told officers that Joyce had repeatedly threatened them, the complaint said.

The neighbors said that on Wednesday, Joyce approached their house swinging a machete, the complaint said. They then said that Joyce was “cutting up chemicals” in her driveway while screaming at the neighbors, the complaint said. The neighbors believed Joyce’s threats were ethnically motivated, the complaint said.

Officers stood by while the neighbors packed a few belongings. When the neighbors tried to back out of their driveway, they said Joyce ran at them swinging a baseball bat, according to the complaint. The neighbors drove to the officers, who arrested Joyce, the complaint said.

The officers later spoke to another neighborhood resident of Joyce who said they saw Joyce approach her neighbors' house Friday morning wielding a machete and peeking into their windows, the complaint said.

Joyce’s first court appearance was scheduled for Monday. She is currently being held at the
Boarded Ramsey WH County Workhouse.