St. Paul police officer Tom Arnold hurried into the courtroom Friday afternoon just minutes before a court clerk read the verdicts: Candyce M. Jones was guilty of two counts of making terroristic threats against the officer and his 10-year-old son.
Although Arnold didn't comment after the verdict, his shoulders visibly relaxed as he spoke with prosecutor Richard Dusterhoft outside the Ramsey County courtroom.
Arnold had testified earlier this week that Jones, 32, of Maplewood, had approached him and his son in a Walgreens store in Roseville on Dec. 23 as they were buying gift wrap.
"With the people you're harassing, your son's going to end up dead and I'll see to it," he testified she had told him.
Defense attorney Nicole Kubista told the jury that Jones didn't threaten Arnold and his son but called the off-duty officer a drunk and an alcoholic, which humiliated and embarrassed him.
"That's mean and mean-spirited, but it's not a crime," Kubista said.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated more than 12 hours before reaching their verdict. District Judge Edward S. Wilson set sentencing for July 28.
PAT PHEIFER
