Blaine Man Accused Of Threatening Gov. Walz's Life

SAINT PAUL, MN — A Blaine man is accused of leaving a voicemail threatening to kill Gov. Tim Walz. Shawn P. Simonson, 51, faces one count of threats of violence.

Simonson left the message for Walz on the governor's public line at the Minnesota State Capitol on Aug. 2, police said.

"So, you just endorsed Omar?" Simonson said, according to the criminal complaint. "Let me tell you something about that $6 million building you bought, that refrigerated building that you bought that is standing empty," the message continued, according to the complaint. "We’re gonna put your dead body in that building and then we’re gonna burn it down."

The "refrigerated building" appears to be a reference to the building that the state purchased amid the coronavirus pandemic in case deaths spiked and overwhelmed local resources.

On Aug. 4, a Minnesota state trooper called Simonson on the phone. Simonson admitted it was he who left the message, apologized, and said he "wasn't thinking straight" when he "said those stupid things," the complaint states.

Simonson told the trooper he was frustrated because gets banned from Facebook when he tries to voice his opinion, the complaint continued. He also said he needs anger management, according to police.