A standoff between police and an armed shoplifting suspect who was holding his girlfriend hostage in a vehicle in Anoka ended late Wednesday when authorities took him into custody.
Standoff ends in Anoka as suspect with hostage in vehicle arrested
The incident began the day before as a shoplifting case at a Blaine Walmart.
April 6, 2023 at 2:08PM
No injuries were reported as law enforcement from several agencies arrested the man about 10:20 p.m. in a car wash parking lot on the 600 block of East River Road, said Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany.
Events began about 6 p.m. Tuesday when the man allegedly robbed a Walmart on Ball Road NE. in Blaine. The man pulled out a gun when he was confronted by a member of the store's loss prevention team and threatened the employee before leaving, Podany said.
Blaine police identified the suspect Wednesday morning and began looking for him. Members of the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force, Minneapolis Police Department, FBI and the State Patrol joined the search.
Authorities tracked the man to a car wash parking lot. At the time, his girlfriend was in the vehicle, Podany said.
The suspect rammed several police vehicles in the parking lot, but he was trapped at the scene. It then turned into a hostage situation with the suspect's girlfriend also in the vehicle, Podany said.
Blaine police, Anoka police and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office SWAT team negotiated for hours for a "peaceful surrender," Podany said.
The suspect's name was not released.
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