Stand Off With Armed Man Shutdown I-35 Near Faribault For Hours

Faribault, MN (KROC-AM News) - Charges are pending against a man who was arrested Sunday evening following an hours-long standoff with law enforcement officers on Interstate 35 just south of Faribault.

The Rice County Sheriff's Office is reporting that the standoff followed a pursuit that began in Steele County and ended when the man stopped the vehicle he was driving on northbound I-35 and exited the vehicle holding a handgun. Officials say the man then made his way to the southbound lanes of the freeway.

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His actions required authorities to shut down I-35 and residents living nearby were alerted to "shelter in place." The Sheriff's office says the man then proceeded to "pace around the area of I-35 armed with a handgun."

The news release says, despite repeated commands from law enforcement officers to drop the gun and work towards a peaceful resolution, he did not comply with the commands and fired multiple rounds from the gun. No injuries were reported.

Several hours after the incident began, the Rice County Sheriff's Office reported that members of the South Metro SWAT and Minnesota State Patrol Special Response Team, successfully deployed non-lethal tactics and were able to take the man into custody shortly after 7 PM.

The Rice County Sheriff's Office says they received assistance from the South Metro SWAT, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, along with the Faribault and Northfield Police Departments.

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