Willmar police call in SWAT team Thursday to help arrest felon with history of domestic assaults

Willmar law enforcement called in a SWAT team Thursday to help capture a felon with a history of domestic assault convictions.

At about 6:13 p.m on March 14, Willmar Police were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of 8th St SW on the report of an active domestic assault.  Officers found a 41 year old woman with injuries and blood on her hands and face. The woman was the owner of the home, and when she came home from work found her 45 year old estranged boyfriend from St. Cloud inside. He allegedly physically assaulted her, and she believed he had some type of edged weapon.

Officers located the suspect barricaded in a closet on the 2nd floor. Officers also determined he was wanted on two felony warrants for fleeing a police officer and a controlled substance crime. The suspect has a long history of violence including gun related crimes and a pending felon in possession of a firearm crime. The suspect has received downward departures in sentencing for those past crimes including greatly reduced probation.

Officers attempted to negotiate and de-escalate but the suspect remained enraged and violent. At that point the Willmar Police Department SWAT team was paged for assistance. The Willmar PD SWAT team used chemical irritants to bring the suspect under control and arrest him. He was medically cleared, then brought to the Kandiyohi County Jail.

Willmar Police were assisted by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force and CentraCare EMS.