Murder suspect and Lush co-founder Ty Hoffman arrested on foot at Arby's drive-through

Lyle "Ty" Hoffman, accused of fatally shooting his former romantic and business partner exactly one month ago, was arrested in Shakopee late Thursday morning near a fast-food restaurant, police there said Thursday.

Police said the unarmed Hoffman was taken into custody peacefully shortly after 10:20 a.m. after officers answered a report of "a suspicious male" in the Southbridge Crossing Shopping Center near an Arby's on the 8000 block of Old Carriage Court.

A citizen recognized Hoffman as the alleged killer of Kelly Phillips at an Arden Hills gas station on Aug. 11, called police and kept authorities updated on his movements in the shopping area until the arrest was made, said Police Chief Jeff Tate during a late-morning news conference.

"He was first observed by the officer looking at the drive-through menu," Tate said. "[Hoffman] was on foot."

Hoffman, 44, was handcuffed and acknowledged his identity to officers, the chief said, adding there was no indication that he was with anyone at the time of his apprehension.

Two officers made the arrest and Hoffman "was cooperative the entire time," Tate said. From there, Hoffman was taken to the Shakopee police headquarters, where investigators were meeting him before his transfer to Ramsey County.

"It was good old-fashioned police work and a concerned citizen," said Ramsey County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Kirkwood, attending the same news conference. "We don't know a whole lot more than we got him. … We just had to stay on it. … It's a great relief."

Kirkwood said he was not surprised that Hoffman surrendered without a fight. "People get tired of running, and people are relieved to get caught," the chief deputy said.

Last week, law enforcement showed up in force in response to various reports of Hoffman being sighted in Prior Lake near Mystic Lake Casino and in neighboring Shakopee.

Less than 40 minutes after Hoffman's arrest and more than an hour before the police chief's news conference, word of the apprehension was relayed to a business and law enforcement group meeting at the Shakopee Police Department shortly before 11 a.m., said an insurance salesman who was there.

"The [chief deputy] county attorney was present and got pulled out of the room by a police officer," said Geoff Engelhart, referring to Ron Hocevar. "He came back in the room, made an announcement to the room and we all applauded."

More information from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office was anticipated Thursday afternoon.

Hoffman, of Minneapolis, was wanted in connection with the shooting death of Phillips, 48, an attorney and Boston Scientific vice president and owner of the Lush nightclub in Minneapolis, where Hoffman had worked. Phillips, of Minneapolis, was to marry Nathon Bailey on Aug. 30, but instead, friends and family held a private memorial service for him that day.

In a statement early Thursday afternoon, friends and family of Phillips who have been heading a reward effort for Hoffman's capture said, "On the one-month anniversary of the brutal death of our beloved Kelly Phillips, his friends and family are grateful that law enforcement was able to bring the suspect into custody without further tragedy."

Hoffman allegedly shot Phillips three times at an Arden Hills Holiday gas station. The two had been engaged in an increasingly tense personal and professional dispute. Hoffman has been charged via arrest warrant in Ramsey County District Court with one count of intentional second-degree murder.

He is also suspected of holding up a TCF Bank in Blaine around 2 p.m. on Aug. 31 and fleeing with cash and a red dye pack that probably exploded. Blaine Police Chief Chris Olson said the bank robbery suspect closely resembled Hoffman in video footage.