Chef Justin Sutherland arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

Celebrity chef Justin Sutherland was arrested Friday night in St. Paul on suspicion of domestic violence and threats of serious violence, police said.

Just after 8 p.m. Friday, officers were called to an address in the 800 block of Front Avenue in St. Paul after receiving reports that a man with a gun was outside the address. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man and a woman. The man, identified as Sutherland, 39, was arrested and booked into the Ramsey County Jail on charges of domestic violence and threat of violence, said Sergeant Mike Ernster, St. Paul police spokesman.

“Our investigators will work to determine the circumstances that led to this arrest. As soon as we have those details, we will share them,” he said. Ernster said police will present the case to the Ramsey County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.

Sutherland remained in jail until Saturday afternoon.

The St. Paul chef has appeared on “Iron Chef,” “Fast Foodies,” “Top Chef” and “Taste the Culture” and has been a judge on several other food-related TV shows and talk shows, including “Good Morning America.” He is the winner of the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” and a season finalist on “Top Chef.” He is also the author of the cookbook “Northern Soul” and won an Emmy for “Taste the Culture.”

He opened his first restaurant, Handsome Hog, in St. Paul’s Lowertown. Sutherland is no longer associated with that restaurant, but owns Big E, an egg sandwich shop on Grand Avenue.

Earlier this year, he announced he would help reopen the popular Rondo community restaurant Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe. Sutherland and his father, Kerry Sutherland, are working with the nonprofit Rondo Community Land Trust to open the restaurant.