Suspect Arrested After Standoff in St. Cloud

(KNSI) – A suspect in a drug investigation was arrested after a nearly eight-hour standoff in St. Cloud Tuesday.

According to a press release, the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force was serving a knock-and-announce search warrant connected to a drug investigation at an apartment complex in the 2700-block of 16th Street South. At 8:35 a.m., task force members knocked on the door and announced that they had a search warrant.

The 37-year-old suspect named in the warrant allegedly threatened to shoot officers, yelling through the door. Police say they backed away and set up a perimeter. Police say the suspect then yelled statements that he would kill himself. He fired one gunshot from inside the apartment, which exited through a wall and into the hallway where officers were staging. No one was struck by the round, and no shots were fired in response by officers.

Police began evacuating the building and set up an outer perimeter closing several area roads. The St. Cloud SWAT team was called in for assistance. Phone negotiations were established and went on for several hours. Around 3:50 p.m., the suspect agreed to surrender peacefully. He exited the apartment and was taken into custody.

Police say he was taken to the Stearns County Jail and is being held on charges related to the incident.

Investigators from the St. Cloud Police Department and the VOTF remained on the scene to complete the search of the apartment regarding the original search warrant.

All Roadways have been reopened and residents of the complex are able to return to their apartments.

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