Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing felony charges after a reported knife attack at People’s Church, according to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County.
Charges Filed In Beltrami County
Jared Lee Jones, 23, of Bemidji, has been charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. He also faces a felony fifth-degree assault charge.
The complaint says the incident happened on April 9, 2026, at about 4:15 p.m. It allegedly took place at People’s Church in Bemidji.
According to court records, officers were sent to the church after a report of a man with a knife. The caller said someone was trying to stab another person.
What Investigators Say Happened
When officers arrived, they met two people identified in the complaint as S.B. and B.S. One of them had a cut on the pinky knuckle of his right hand.
The complaint also says officers saw blood spatter near the scene. Investigators say an argument happened before the violence started.
Court records state that Jared Lee Jones then tried to stab S.B. with a knife. A witness also told police that Jones pulled out a fold-out knife and made several stabbing moves.
The complaint says Jones ran away when police sirens were heard. Officers later found him nearby.
According to the filing, Jones told officers he threw the knife near a dumpster in an alley. Police then found a knife with a green handle and black blade. The complaint says it had fresh blood on it.
Prior Convictions Listed
The complaint says Jones has prior convictions that support the new felony fifth-degree assault charge.
Those records include a January 27, 2026, felony fifth-degree assault conviction. They also include a December 30, 2024, gross misdemeanor no-contact-order conviction.
The complaint lists other past assault-related convictions as well. Those include gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor fifth-degree assault cases.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations. Guilt must be proven in court.
Readers can review Minnesota court information through the Minnesota Judicial Branch. The charges cited in the complaint reference Minnesota Statute 609.222 and Minnesota Statute 609.224.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.