A botched dope deal led to the shooting Sunday of Vernon Cafle, 43, who was found dead on the back porch of his home in the 600 block of Duluth Street in St. Paul's Dayton's Bluff neighborhood, according to court documents filed Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court.

A criminal complaint charging Jabaris C. Boldman, 24, with second-degree murder said he wanted to buy a pound of marijuana and called Cafle's niece, who arranged for him to buy some from the victim. When Boldman got to Cafle's house, he called the niece again. She then made a three-way call to her uncle, who said Boldman could come onto the porch.

A few minutes later, the victim's cousin, who was inside the house, heard arguing, then "three pops" and heard Cafle call out his name, the complaint said. The cousin saw the shooter running to a vehicle.

Police learned that a 27-year-old St. Paul man had driven Boldman to the victim's house. That man turned himself in to police and said that Boldman told him that, "he was going to shoot the guy in the face but instead he shot him in the back," the complaint said.

Boldman also told the driver, "You didn't see me and I didn't see you," the complaint said.

Boldman was arrested about 6 p.m. Monday when an officer on routine patrol saw him on the East Side.

"I'm the guy you're after, take me down, let's get this over with," Boldman told the officer, the complaint said. He denied being involved in the murder of Cafle.

Boldman was released from prison in November after serving a 21-month sentence for domestic assault by strangulation.

He also has convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon, another domestic assault and drug possession. He is being held in the Ramsey County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. The man who drove him to the victim's house has been released pending further investigation.

PAT PHEIFER