Former Tim Walz appointee arrested on felony sex charge

Jason Metsa, former DFL state representative from the Iron Range (2013-2019), and former Deputy Commissioner of the state agency Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), was arrested yesterday and booked into the St. Louis County (Duluth) jail.

The Mesabi Tribune posted a story on Saturday.

Duluth’s local NBC/CBS affiliate appears to have been the first out with a report on Sunday afternoon.

See also reports from AlphaNews and KSTP. Other local outlets from Duluth reporting include Fox21 and WDIO-ABC.

According to his LinkedIn bio, Metsa served as Deputy Commissioner of IRRRB from Feb. 2019 until Sept. 2022, corresponding to the first term of current DFL Gov. Tim Walz.

In announcing his appointment back in 2019, the IRRRB noted:

In his new position, Metsa will help carry out Gov. Tim Walz’s “One Minnesota” vision, as well as the agency’s mission of promoting and investing in business, community and workforce development for the betterment of northeastern Minnesota. 

In 2018, Metsa ran for U.S. Congress, finishing third in the DFL primary for the 8th District.

The official listing for Metsa reports that he was booked shortly before noon on Saturday, July 6. He was still listed as being in custody as of noon, Sunday, July 7.

{Update: Metsa was released Tuesday morning (July 9). No charges have been filed in the case, as of yet. The Mesabi Tribune reports that the investigation in the case continues.]

Metsa’s arrest comes at a time when sitting state Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) awaits her fate on felony burglary charges related to her forced entry into the home of her stepmother in Detroit Lakes back in April.

A hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, in the Mitchell case has been pushed back to August 30.