Standoff In Royalton Locks Down Nearby Elementary School

(KNSI) – A 37-year-old Royalton man was taken into custody after holding police at bay for several hours on Wednesday.

According to a press release, the Royalton Police Department went to Reed Allen Clark’s home after being tipped off about him living there. He has several warrants out for his arrest, including two felonies. Officers saw him in the backyard and pulled up to talk to him. Clark ran inside and went up on the roof of his house, refusing to come down. Morrison County Sheriff’s deputies and Little Falls Police were called in as backup.

Since the home was near Royalton Elementary, the building was put on lockdown. Arrangements were made to safely release the students at the end of the day. Negotiators from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Morrison County and Stearns/Benton County SWAT teams were called in. After negotiations failed, they used tear gas to try and get him down.

At about 9:00 p.m., officers say he attempted to jump from his house to a nearby shed, but hurt his arm in the process and finally agreed to turn himself in.

He was taken to St. Gabriel’s Hospital for treatment before being booked into the Morrison County jail.

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