A man accused of aiming a shotgun at a Roseville office worker was charged Friday with attempted first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of stolen property, all felonies.

Michael Kevin Jones, 40, of Minneapolis was arrested Thursday outside the Rosedale East office building soon after a woman working in the Allstate Insurance office there called police.

A Roseville Police Department detective saw the suspect, dressed in black clothes with a hat that covered his head and face, walking through deep snow on Herschel Street east of the office building.

A sawed-off shotgun and seven shotgun shells later were found in a plastic bag in the snow near a parked vehicle where Jones was arrested, said Rick Mathwig, acting chief of police. The shotgun was traced to a burglary in Brooklyn Center, according to the criminal complaint.

Police were called to the building at 1751 County Road B at 12:36 p.m., starting a lockdown of area buildings and a search by SWAT teams for nearly three hours.

Jones allegedly pointed the shotgun at a worker at the front desk, saying, "I need money. If you do everything I tell you, you won't get hurt," according to the criminal complaint. He later told her, "I don't know what to do. I am desperate. I need cash."

When arrested, Jones told police he was coming from an appointment at an office building next door, Mathwig said.

Jones has an extensive criminal history, dating to August 1989 when as a 20-year-old he pleaded guilty to prohibited use of a tear gas compound, state court records show. Two other charges in that case, one for fifth-degree assault and the other for misdemeanor theft, were dismissed.

He has found trouble on a fairly consistent basis ever since.

Records show Jones has been convicted of at least 20 crimes, with many involving thefts or property offenses. His sentences include one in 1992 for 3¼ years in prison for attempted aggravated robbery in Hennepin County, four years in prison for third-degree burglary in 2003 in Dakota County and 2 1/2 years in prison for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and theft in 2007 -- again in Dakota County.

His only prior conviction in Ramsey County was for the theft of a motor vehicle in 2001, according to court records.

He is in custody and is expected to make a first appearance in Ramsey County District Court on Monday.

Staff writer Anthony Lonetree contributed to this report. Kevin Giles • 612-673-4432