A Twin Cities man who didn't want to watch his two young children Saturday jumped on the roof of their mother's sport-utility vehicle in an attempt to stop her from dropping them off, but she drove off anyway, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour with him on top, according to charges filed Monday.

Shatavia N. Jackson, 21, of St. Paul dropped the children off at their uncle's house in St. Paul about 3 p.m. The children's father was at the house and apparently didn't want to take care of them.

Jackson drove to the back of the house and dropped off the children "against [their father's] wishes," the criminal complaint said. "When [the father] saw what Jackson had done and saw her trying to leave [he] jumped on the roof" of her vehicle.

Authorities charged Jackson in Ramsey County District Court with second-degree assault and threats of violence.

The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office investigated the incident but could not be reached for comment. It's unclear whether the father was also investigated for his actions, and whether he could also face charges.

According to the complaint: The SUV traveled for nearly 9 miles through city streets and on Hwy. 36. At least four witnesses called 911 to report that the man was on the roof banging on the driver's window, motioning at other cars and trying to open the driver's door.

The man told authorities that he and Jackson yelled at each other as he pounded on the window and roof. He said that once the vehicle stopped on the Rice Street exit ramp, Jackson tried, but failed, to mace him. The two then had a "physical scuffle" outside the SUV.

The complaint noted that the 6-foot, 223-pound man left a "large dent covering most" of the SUV's roof.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708

Twitter: @ChaoStrib