Thief River Falls Woman Charged In Gun Scare
Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls woman is facing several charges after a domestic assault call led to a tense encounter with police.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Pennington County District Court, Amanda Joy Ironbear was charged after an incident on May 27, 2026.
The case was filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District under court file number 57-CR-26-358.
Ironbear is charged with three felony counts of threats of violence. She is also charged with three felony counts involving a replica firearm.
She also faces one gross misdemeanor count of domestic assault.
Domestic Call Led Officers To Home
Court documents say officers were sent to a home on Reserve Avenue in Thief River Falls.
The call involved a reported domestic assault. The reporting party told dispatch that her mother, Amanda Joy Ironbear, had slapped her.
When officers arrived, the reporting party came to the door. Officers then entered the home.
The complaint says officers were told Ironbear was in the back of the residence.
Officers went down a hallway and called for Ironbear. She then came out of a room and walked toward them.
According to the complaint, Ironbear raised what appeared to be a black handgun toward officers.
Amanda Joy Ironbear
Complaint Says Gun Was Fake
Officers backed away and drew their issued firearms, according to court documents.
The complaint says officers repeatedly ordered Ironbear to drop the weapon.
Ironbear allegedly moved the apparent handgun behind her back. She then pointed it toward her head.
The complaint says she later pointed the object toward officers again.
The reporting party told officers she believed the gun was fake. She also said she believed Ironbear was suicidal.
The object did not have bright paint on the end. That marking often helps identify fake firearms.
Court documents say Ironbear later said the gun was fake. Officers again ordered her to drop it.
Ironbear then smashed the item on the ground. It broke into pieces.
Officers later determined it was a fake plastic weapon.
Assault Allegation Detailed
The reporting party told officers that Ironbear was intoxicated when she came home from work.
She said Ironbear wanted to fight and threatened to hurt or punch her.
The complaint says Ironbear punched a refrigerator and got close to the reporting party’s face.
The reporting party said Ironbear slapped her on the left side of her face.
She said she pushed Ironbear away and called 911.
Ironbear was arrested after the incident. The complaint says she gave a preliminary breath sample of 0.22.
She was medically cleared at an emergency room. She was then taken to the Law Enforcement Center.
Charges And Court Information
The threats of violence charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. They also carry a possible $10,000 fine.
The replica firearm charges carry a maximum sentence of one year and one day. They also carry a possible $3,000 fine.
The domestic assault charge carries up to 364 days in jail. It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.
The complaint lists prior convictions in Ironbear’s criminal history. Those include domestic assault convictions from 2017, 2010, and 2008.
A criminal complaint is not a conviction. Ironbear is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More information on the Minnesota threats of violence law is available from the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
More information on Minnesota domestic assault law is available from the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Court case information may also be available through Minnesota Court Records Online.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.