Meire Grove Man Arrested After Allegedly Barricading Himself in Apartment

(KNSI) – More information is being released on a man who barricaded himself in an apartment in Meire Grove, leading to a shelter-in-place order.

Around 9:15 on Monday morning, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was called for a domestic disturbance in the tiny town of roughly 200 people. When deputies arrived, they asked for additional police support. Officers learned the suspect, Anthony Joseph Vankirk, was also wanted on a felony arrest warrant for second-degree arson. The arrest warrant is related to an incident in Albany in August of 2022.

Deputies tried to contact Vankirk multiple times, but he didn’t respond. Around 11:00 a.m., the Stearns-Benton SWAT team was called to assist. Officials evacuated the apartment building, and nearby residents were told to shelter in place or leave the area until further notice.

After several more hours without making contact with Vankirk, the SWAT team was sent in to force open his door. Deputies were able to see Vankirk, and he started to respond to commands.

The 42-year-old man from Meire Grove walked out of the apartment and was placed under arrest on the domestic assault charge and the warrant.

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