Ramsey County has been in the headlines recently, with news ranging from criminal arrests to significant legislative impacts on the county's budget and infrastructure. Here's a breakdown of the top stories:
Child Exploitation Arrest in Ramsey County
A Ramsey County man, Jeffrey Simon, 38, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the sexual exploitation of two children. According to court documents, Simon used the online platform Discord to target a 14-year-old girl from California, posing as a 15-year-old. He allegedly coerced her into sending nude photos and videos, later threatening to kidnap her when she attempted to end the contact. Authorities were able to recover some of the exchanged media, including a video allegedly showing Simon sexually assaulting another 14-year-old. Simon was already facing felony charges in Anoka County for a similar case of sexual abuse. He is accused of sexually assaulting a girl for two years, starting when she was 13, and threatening her life if she revealed his actions.
New Law Enforcement Facility Funded in Mankato
While not directly in Ramsey County, a significant development for law enforcement in southern Minnesota is the funding of a new Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) facility in Mankato. The Minnesota State Legislature's bonding bill allocated $67 million for the project, which will be located next to the Blue Earth County Justice Center. This facility will serve as the South Regional Office of the BCA, housing a lab, field agents, and a crime scene team. Currently, evidence and lab testing must be sent to the Twin Cities Metro area, making the new facility a crucial step in expediting investigations. Construction is expected to begin as early as this fall.
Legislative Impacts on Ramsey and Surrounding Counties
The 2025 Minnesota Legislature had a mixed impact on Ramsey, Washington, and Dakota counties. While specific bonding project requests for these counties were not included in this year's bill, Ramsey County officials were able to avoid some potential cuts and cost shifts that could have negatively impacted county levies. A $55 million state investment in replacing the Miller Building at the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center, the state's largest psychiatric hospital, is expected to benefit area metro counties by alleviating pressure on the overall mental health system. Additionally, a $35 million investment in modernizing the Social Services Information System is viewed positively by county officials. Washington County will resubmit its seven individual capital project requests to lawmakers next year. Regional and statewide funding initiatives included in the bonding bill, such as the Local Road Improvement Program and the Local Bridge Improvement Program, may indirectly benefit Washington County.