Polk County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A Fargo woman is charged in Polk County with felony stalking and two felony counts tied to false 911 calls. The calls allegedly sent responders to a Crookston police officer’s home.
According to a criminal complaint, Fannie Jo Howard-Johnson, 32, is accused of a pattern of stalking between January 20 and August 19, 2025. Prosecutors say repeated harassing phone calls targeted the officer and a family member in the same household. The complaint states the calls would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized and that the victims did feel terrorized.
Investigators say the first false emergency call occurred on January 20. A caller reported a sexual assault at the officer’s rural Polk County residence. A deputy checked the home and found no crime in progress. On August 19, a second call to Crookston Police reported a fire at the officer’s home. Responders found no fire, the complaint says.
Deputies also documented late-night text messages sent to the officer’s spouse. The messages contained disturbing language and references to surveillance. The spouse told investigators the messages made the family fear they were being watched.
Detectives reviewed social media posts that named the officer and the department. The complaint also notes prior reports made by the same caller to state and federal tip lines. No charges were filed against the officer or other named individuals as a result of those reports, according to investigators.
The complaint lists earlier convictions for Howard-Johnson and says she has active warrants in several Minnesota counties on unrelated cases. Prosecutors filed notice that they may seek an aggravated sentence, arguing she is unamenable to probation if convicted.
Count I alleges felony stalking under Minnesota Statute 609.749, subd. 5. Counts II and III allege placing fictitious emergency calls to prompt a response to a peace officer’s home under Minnesota Statute 609.78, subd. 2c(5). The complaint lists a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine on the stalking count. The complaint lists up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine on each false-call count.
The case remains pending in Polk County District Court. Anyone with relevant information can contact local law enforcement. Read Minnesota’s stalking statute and false emergency call statute.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
