Richfield Woman Accused of Attacking Man With Steak Knife

A Richfield woman has been charged with attacking a man with a steak knife, cutting him on the head near his ear.

Bernice Valerie Johnson, also known as Bernice Valerie Smith, 47, is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. The charge has a mandatory minimum penalty of a year and a day in prison and a $4,200 fine.

Richfield police were called to an apartment in the 7700 block of Penn Avenue South just after 5:30 a.m. Dec. 16 after someone reported an “unwanted intoxicated individual” on the premises, according to the criminal complaint, signed by Richfield Police Detective Patrick Moriarty.

When they arrived, officers met with the victim, who lives in the apartment and told police that Johnson had been temporarily staying with him. The man had suffered a cut on the left side of his head near his ear; police found a bloody steak knife in the victim’s bedroom.

They also found Johnson, who was described as intoxicated and partially clad.

The victim told police that Johnson became angry with him that morning and began to shout at him. He said she grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen and “came at him,” cutting his face; he said the attack was unprovoked.

The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated.

Johnson remains in the Hennepin County Jail on a $50,000 bond, and she is also on a Minnesota Department of Corrections hold. An omnibus hearing in her case is scheduled Jan. 8 in Hennepin County District Court.

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