A conservative county commission candidate in Minnesota has been charged with fifth-degree assault for allegedly throwing a live tarantula at his roommate, who was living in the home after overstaying her lease.
Marisa Simonetti, 30, who doesn’t own her Minneapolis-area home, rented a room to local attorney Jackie Vasquez a few weeks ago. Rejected leave When a short-term contract ends.
It’s unclear whether Simonetti should have rented out a room in a house he doesn’t own, but the Hennepin County Council candidate argues he was right to confront Vasquez when he refused to run.
A heated argument broke out between the two women on Friday, with Vasquez recording video and calling 911 when Simonetti began throwing items down the stairs into the basement apartment.
In a video provided to KARE 11 News by Vasquez, Simonetti can be seen taking the tarantula out of the box and blasting gospel music while on the phone with a police dispatcher.
In this first video, Marisa Simonetti can be seen throwing the tarantula down the stairs at Jackie Vasquez, who was on the phone with the dispatcher at the time. pic.twitter.com/psFOMSovX3
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) June 25, 2024
The video also shows boxes containing various items being thrown down the stairs at Vasquez.
Now Simonetti throws even more things down the stairs. pic.twitter.com/OoS5xmNM7w
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) June 25, 2024
“For me it’s praise and worship music playing loudly in the background,” Simonetti replied to an X thread of her antics with a laughing emoji.
For me it’s praise and worship music playing loudly in the background 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️
— Marisa Simonetti (@M_Simonetti28) June 25, 2024
Simonetti says her action was a tribute to the film. Home Alone.
“There’s an element of humor in the movie, and at the end, what was I supposed to do? And at the end, I went crazy and kicked her out of the house.”
Michael Charles Held (69 years old) Charged Vasquez accused Simonetti of helping her throw the object at her and charged him with fifth-degree assault.
Simonetti, who was released without bail on Monday, described Vasquez as a “squatter.” Said According to KARE 11 News, when the real homeowner found out Simonetti was renting out her basement, he gave her permission to stay in it.
The up-and-coming lawmaker has vowed to fight the misdemeanor charges and continue his bid for Hennepin County Councilman.
“I’m good at creative problem-solving, and at the end of the day, I’m not physically harming anyone,” she says. “I do do some things that are a little unconventional sometimes. I mean, I’m a bit of a dork.”
Simonetti has continued to make fun of the tarantula incident. joke She “should have been invited,” FOX 9 reported. [Vasquez] Let’s enjoy some tea and crumpets.”
“Join me at the tarantula-throwing presidential debate viewing party,” she advertised on X.
🕷️Would you like to join me in a presidential debate viewing party as I throw a tarantula?🕸️
🎞️ Thursday, June 27th, 7pmhttps://t.co/1eFi6xwzKH pic.twitter.com/fmnshQ6U55— Marisa Simonetti (@M_Simonetti28) June 25, 2024
