Celebrity chef Justin Sutherland has been charged with criminal charges after allegedly threatening to shoot his girlfriend and choking her, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.
Police arrested the 39-year-old “Top Chef” alumnus on Friday in St. Paul, Minnesota, and charged him with a felony count of threatening violence — reckless disregard for risk, according to a statement of probable cause.
The criminal complaint claims the victim told police Sutherland pointed a gun at her and struck her in the chest, and allegedly yelled, “Don't come back here or I'll shoot you.”
The woman, who has been kept anonymous in light of the alleged domestic violence, also claimed to authorities that the “Fast Foodies” star put his hands around her throat and held her down for several seconds.
As he allegedly strangled her, Sutherland said, “I could kill you,” according to the probable cause document.
The complaint also states that Sutherland denied threatening his girlfriend.
Sutherland's attorney, John Daly, claimed the woman's allegations were “filled with lies.”
“Mr. Sutherland vehemently denies all of the allegations made in the complaint,” Daly said in a statement to People. “He never threatened to shoot anyone. He never physically assaulted his girlfriend. He hopes the truth will come out during the court process.”
Daly claimed the woman made the allegations after she realized “the relationship was coming to an end.”
Sutherland is the chef at several well-known restaurants in the Twin Cities, such as Handsome Hog, Big E, and Gray Duck Tavern.
Last month he announced plans to open the new restaurant in the region in the fall.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.