A man from St. Paul was convicted while stealing a tip jar from an off-duty police officer

A man from St. Paul who tried to rob an East Side restaurant with a steak knife — only to be thwarted by an off-duty police officer having dinner with his family — was sentenced Wednesday to two years’ probation and 50 hours of work for the benefit of the community. for the Father’s Day attack.

Officer St. Paul Jonathan Valencia was at the Best Steak House at White Bear and Larpenteur avenues on June 16 when Drew Charles Larson grabbed the spiked jar from the counter just before 6 p.m.

A worker at the restaurant confronted Larson, who grabbed a steak knife and raised it above his head as if to stab the worker, according to the charges.

When Valencia intervened, Larson pointed the knife at him. Valencia then pulled out a gun, identified himself as a police officer and told Larson to drop the knife.

Larson complied, and Valencia and restaurant employees held him while Valencia’s father called 911. On-duty officers arrived and took Larson into custody.

In an interview with police, Larson said she took the tip jar because she was hungry, the charges say. He said he only held the knife because he thought the worker would hurt him.

“This shows that the duty and oath to protect does not take a day off,” said the St. Louis Police Department. Paul two days later in a Facebook post. “St. Paul police officers are always vigilant, whether they are on duty or away with their families.”

Larson, 39, had arraigned in Ramsey County District Court with three felonies: two counts of aggravated robbery in the first degree and simple robbery.

A month before the robbery, Larson was placed on probation for a year for a similar offense in West St. Paul last year. According to court records, he stole about $50 from a tip jar at El Taquito Taco Shop along South Robert Street. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft.

“He made a very bad decision”

Larson reached a plea deal with Ramsey County prosecutors in November and admitted to the simple robbery charge in exchange for a suspended prison sentence. It also included a stay of imposition, meaning the felony conviction would be reduced to a misdemeanor if he successfully completed probation.

Larson’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Sarah Leonard, argued to Judge Adam Yang at Wednesday’s hearing that the crime should be sentenced as a felony, arguing that it is less serious than a simple robbery.

She said Larson, who was homeless, entered the restaurant to commit a misdemeanor and took the knife from a counter because he feared for his safety after being confronted.

“Because of the circumstances under which it unfolded, he made a very poor decision,” she said, noting that he did not go to the restaurant with a gun. … “He didn’t pick someone up and took their purse. And he didn’t drive by force. He attempted to commit a misdemeanor.”

She said Larson has been sober since the crime and is receiving treatment and mental health care.

“He feels bad about what happened and he said as much in (the present investigation),” she said.

Assistant Ramsey County Prosecutor Cory Tennison opposed the defense’s motion, saying Larson sees herself as a victim.