Anoka County Standoff Ends After 18-Hour SWAT Operation
BY MN CRIME STAFF
An 18-hour standoff in Nowthen has ended with the suspect in custody after he reportedly fired multiple shots from inside a home.
The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office says the incident began Thursday just before 6 p.m., when the Emergency Communications center received a call from a homeowner in the 18800 block of Jasper Street NW.
The caller said an adult male wanted on outstanding warrants was at the residence. Dispatchers confirmed multiple active warrants along with a KOPS alert seeking the man in connection with an order for protection violation.
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Deputies responded to the home and made contact with the man, who threatened to shoot deputies, authorities said. For the safety of nearby residents, a shelter-in-place alert was issued for the surrounding area. The Anoka County SWAT Team was activated and negotiators attempted to make contact with the man, but he refused to cooperate.
During the standoff, authorities say the man fired multiple shots from inside the residence. As the incident continued overnight and into the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 19, additional SWAT teams were called in to assist with mutual aid.
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At about 12:39 p.m. Friday, a fire broke out inside the home. Shortly afterward, the 39-year-old man was taken into custody and transported to the Anoka County Jail. No injuries were reported.
The standoff lasted more than 18 hours and was further complicated by frigid temperatures and the strain on law enforcement and emergency resources.
Law enforcement SWAT mutual aid was provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Elk River Police Department, Wright County Sheriff’s Office and St. Cloud Police Department. Allina EMS provided on-site medical support throughout the incident. Fire response and mutual aid were handled by the Nowthen Fire Department, Oak Grove Fire Department, St. Francis Fire Department, Andover Fire Department, Ramsey Fire Department, Elk River Fire Department, Zimmerman Fire Department and Isanti Fire Department.
The incident remains under investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
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