On February 22, 2026, law enforcement was dispatched to a residence in the City of St. Cloud, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota, for a report of a domestic assault. Child A, fully identified in police reports, called in to report Tani Angelic Bennett, [DOB REDACTED], defendant herein, put her hands on her and would not let her leave. When officers arrived, they could hear a struggle inside the apartment. Officers knocked on the door. Defendant asked what they wanted through the closed door. Officers identified themselves and told defendant Child A had called the police and they needed to check on her welfare.
Defendant stated Child A always calls the police and she is fine. Officers attempted to negotiate with defendant through the door to allow them inside to check on Child A's welfare, but she refused. Officers could hear a male voice inside the apartment, later identified as R. T., fully identified in police reports, trying to reason with defendant. Officers could hear R. T. Making comments about how he was trying to exit the apartment with Child A and his other children, but defendant was not allowing him to leave.
Defendant continued to yell through the door at law enforcement that they would not be allowed inside, and would not be allowed to speak to Child A. Officers told defendant that it was a crime to prevent people who are trying to leave their residence from leaving and they just needed to speak to Child A. Defendant still refused to allow law enforcement to enter, or Child A or R. T. To leave the apartment. Eventually law enforcement heard a physical scuffle inside the apartment. Due to concerns of immediate danger of those inside the apartment, law enforcement breached the door and entered the apartment.
R. T. Told law enforcement that defendant and Child A had been having issues with each other all day. R. T. Stated he saw both defendant and Child A swinging and grabbing at each other. At one point he heard Child A say, "Stop mama, I'm sorry." R. T. Stated this was hours prior to law enforcement arriving. Another altercation occurred just prior to law enforcement arriving. R. T. Stated he saw defendant rip a couple of bags away from Child A. R. T. Said he understood why law enforcement needed to get into the apartment.
Defendant was at the front door the entire time law enforcement was there and had placed a chair in front of the door. R. T. Stated that he and Child A attempted to leave multiple times and had made it as far as trying to unlatch the lock. However, defendant prevented them from doing so. R. T. Did not want to be forceful with defendant, and he felt the only way he could leave the apartment with Child A was by physically moving defendant away from the door. Child A reported that defendant was drinking alcohol and when she drinks alcohol she gets upset, screams, yells and becomes physical.
