Officer shot while making an arrest in White Bear Lake; suspect jailed

A veteran White Bear Lake police officer was in stable condition Wednesday after being shot three times while trying to arrest a man wanted on a warrant Tuesday night.

Officers arrived at an apartment complex in the 3100 block of Karth Road just before 9:30 p.m. to arrest the 33-year-old man on a warrant for felony domestic assault and threats of violence, White Bear Police Chief Julie Swanson said in a news release.

About 10 p.m., the suspect fired on police and hit the officer three times in the midsection, according to the release.

The officer, whose identity was not released, was taken to a hospital by White Bear Lake Fire Department.

Negotiators tried to persuade the suspect to surrender, but for two hours he threatened to use his gun again, police said.

Just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, SWAT teams using a robot shot a gas agent into the suspect's apartment. He crawled toward the doorway and was arrested without further incident, authorities said.

The suspect was being held at the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of attempted murder and the warrant charges.

Records for two civil companion cases associated with the domestic assault case in 2021 show the suspect was committed to hospitals several times for mental illness in 2020-22.

The arrest warrant was issued Jan. 18 for failing to appear at a court hearing.

On Wednesday, the man was ordered to undergo an evaluation for competency to proceed in the domestic assault case. The Star Tribune generally does not name suspects until they are charged. A call to the man's attorney in the domestic case wasn't returned Wednesday.

Law enforcement from several agencies also responded to the scene, including SWAT teams from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and St. Paul Police Department.

Portions of the apartment complex were evacuated, and Metro Transit provided buses where residents could stay warm until they were allowed to return.

A spokeswoman for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension confirmed only that the agency was responding to a use-of-force and officer-shot incident in the northeast metro suburb.