Justin Sutherland arrested and charged with threats of violence

Justin Sutherland, a prominent figure in the Twin Cities culinary scene, has been arrested On June 28, in St. Paul, he was charged Monday, July 1, with one count of threatening violence against his girlfriend. The criminal complaint portrays Sutherland as having a violent temper.

(Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article was published before Sutherland commented on the accusation. His official statement has since been added to the bottom of the article.)

He is currently out of prison after being charged with threatening his girlfriend with a gun and putting her in a chokehold. Sutherland is arguably one of the two or three most visible members of Minnesota’s culinary community: the face of countless tourism campaigns, brand relationships, a national Daytime Emmy winner and the host of truTV’s “Fast Foodies.” He appeared on the latest season of “Top Chef: Wisconsin” and has been the center of attention Minnesota Monthly stories, radio interviews and social media videos from me as well.

What is Sutherland accused of?

All of the following information comes from the criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County Court:

He is accused of threatening violence. When police arrived around 8pm on 28 June, Sutherland’s girlfriend was standing “in the bathroom doorway… visibly shaking and crying”.

She said that at one point Sutherland “came up to her, put both his hands around her neck and applied pressure, saying, ‘I want you dead.'” She said they remained around her neck for about three seconds and she was able to breathe during that time.

According to the complaint, Sutherland “came out of the back of the building with a black handgun in his hand and stood in the doorway. (She) stated that Sutherland told her, ‘Don’t come back here or I’m going to shoot you.’ As she walked back toward the house, (he) stood in the doorway with the gun in his hand. As she approached him, (she) stated that (he) pointed the gun at her and then struck her in the chest with the gun.”

In an interview after Sutherland’s arrest, his girlfriend “reported ongoing verbal abuse from (Sutherland) and that he could be violent when angry. (She) said (he) had broken the windshield of her car two days earlier.”

An hour and a half before the incident occurred, the girlfriend called 911 claiming her boyfriend had strangled her and was trying to kick her out of the apartment. She did not give Sutherland’s name at the time “because she didn’t want to cause trouble for anyone.”

According to the Pioneer Press: “Attorney John Daly, who represents Sutherland, said the complaint was “rife with lies” and that Sutherland was “eagerly waiting for the truth to come out.” There was an argument between the couple “that did not involve any physical violence,” he said during Sutherland’s first court appearance Monday morning.

What is Sutherland involved in?

Sutherland has worked mostly in advertising and guest appearances lately, including sponsored posts for Ecolab and Tissot Watches. He owns Big E, an egg sandwich shop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, and is (was?) opening a restaurant with Rondo Land Trust. Rondo has not yet responded to my request for comment.

He also announced two new restaurants in partnership with Matt Monroe’s Restore Restaurant Group (EaTo, Chloe by Vincent) as part of a Sherman Associates project. I reached out to Monroe and Sherman on Monday and have yet to hear back.

His Southern-inspired restaurant Northern Soul currently has just one location, at MSP Airport, which is operated by Delaware North. I reached out to them and they said, “Delaware North has been made aware of some legal proceedings involving Justin Sutherland and is closely monitoring the situation.”

What is he not involved in?

Nice pig. The restaurant has always been owned by the Madison Restaurant Group. He was the executive chef, tried to buy out his partners, but as of January 2024, he has nothing to do with it anymore.

The Gnome. Brian Ingram describes Sutherland as a friend, but he said he was never an employee and never received a paycheck from Purpose Restaurants. “Justin was never an employee of Purpose Restaurants and never had any investments or ownership interests in the company,” Ingram said.

UPDATE: Statement from Justin Sutherland

(July 2, 6pm) Statement from Justin Sutherland: “Over the weekend, I found myself in a situation where I was taken into custody and charged with a crime. I deeply regret putting myself in this position and the pain and distress it caused to those around me. I sincerely apologize to my family, friends, and fans. I am innocent of these charges and look forward to using the justice system to prove my innocence. However, this incident has made me realize the urgent need to seek professional help and make significant changes in my life. I am committed to making amends and seeking treatment. Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone affected by my behavior. Thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time as we wait for the truth to come out and further prove my innocence.”

A representative for Chief Sutherland added: “The allegations in the complaint are riddled with falsehoods and it should be noted that the court released him on his own recognizance without requiring bail because he does not pose a danger to the community or his surroundings, and he is not a flight risk. Chief Sutherland never physically harmed anyone around him during the alleged incident and, along with the chief’s attorney, John Daly, “we all look forward to the truth coming out as the legal process unfolds.” In the meantime, he will voluntarily enter a treatment center to get the professional assistance needed at this time.”