A Hastings man who threatened to kill a police officer in August, repeatedly emailing and texting the man profane threatening messages, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Nathan Ray Justice, 30, was sentenced in Dakota County Court last week after pleading guilty to a felony count of threats of violence.

Nathan Ray Justice (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities said he threatened to kill the Hastings police department’s deputy chief in October because he was upset his cellphone had not been returned to him after he was charged with pointing a gun at a neighbor in August. In addition, Justice called a woman who worked in the electronic crimes unit of the department and spoke in a profane manner to her before also contacting her through her private LinkedIn account.

Justice previously was charged threats of violence in August after pointing a gun at his neighbor during a dispute over dog feces, prosecutors say.

According to the latest criminal complaint:

Hastings police seized Justice’s cellphone as part of its investigation into the alleged Aug. 23 gun-pointing incident. The phone was given to the county’s electronic crimes unit for forensic examination.

Beginning on Sept. 6, Justice repeatedly emailed and texted the deputy chief about the cellphone. Officers told Justice it would likely take several weeks to process, but he continued to contact the police department, particularly the deputy chief.

“(Justice’s) communications throughout the month of September became increasingly profane,” the complaint says.

Justice called the deputy chief Oct. 22 and demanded his phone be returned. During the conversation, Justice told the deputy chief he was going to kill his “(derogatory term) ass,” the complaint alleges.

Justice then called a civilian employee of the electronic crimes unit on her direct line. “(Justice) was profane and demanded his phone back,” the complaint says. He later left the employee a profane voicemail and contacted her through her private LinkedIn account.

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He also tagged the City of Hastings in numerous Facebook posts, writing that this “didn’t have to come to this” and that he was “on my way.”

Justice has a third open case in Dakota County. He was charged in November 2023 with fleeing police in a motor vehicle and third-degree driving while impaired.

Justice was convicted in Dakota County of misdemeanor driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance in October 2021. He later violated terms of probation by failing to complete a chemical assessment and a victim impact panel, court records show.

He was convicted of motor vehicle theft in Aitkin County in June 2021 and disorderly conduct in Washington County in October of that year.