Suspect Shot, Taken Into Custody After Saint Michael Standoff
SAINT MICHAEL—An armed man holed up in a home since yesterday afternoon was shot by officers and has been taken into custody.
Brandon Gardas, 39, was being airlifted to the hospital as of 9 p.m. Wednesday, authorities have confirmed. No officers were injured.
Authorities from multiple jurisdictions had been on scene through the night and following day, with multiple SWAT vehicles and a wide perimeter surrounding the residence.
Neighbors in the area say the suspect—now confirmed by authorities as Brandon Gardas, 39—fired gunshots into the neighborhood and continued to fire shots, though there were no immediate reports of injury.
Saint Michael is about 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
LATEST: Gardas Charged After Standoff
Police confirmed that Gardas had active warrants for his arrest and continued to fire rounds toward officers as they were in the area.
Authorities said shortly after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to a gun complaint on the 500 block of Central Ave. W. in Saint Michael. The reporting party said that a male and a female were verbally arguing and that the male was carrying a rifle.
Deputies arrived in the area and learned an adult female and two juveniles had previously left the residence. There was still one juvenile left in the residence, but they were reportedly not in danger, according to a media release.
Deputies saw Gardas through the windows, pacing around inside and armed with a long gun, authorities said.
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At around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, deputies attempted to make contact with Gardas again at the residence. He refused to cooperate and they had sporadic conversations with him via cell phone and PA. Shortly after 6 p.m., the remaining juvenile male walked out of the residence and was taken from the area to be evaluated by paramedics.
Residents in the immediate area were asked to shelter in place or had already been evacuated.
Sources said they continued to hear gunfire from the suspect as police tried to negotiate with him via loudspeaker. Officers also deployed gas several times in attempts to get Gardas to surrender.
An armored BearCat vehicle was in the area and officers were continuing to hold a wide perimeter Wednesday, with sources saying the Bloomington Bomb Squad and additional armored vehicles from Hennepin County were called in to assist.
Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said at 4 p.m. Wednesday that Gardas was believed to still be alive inside the residence and armed with a long gun and handgun.
Deringer also confirmed that Gardas was the only person still inside the residence.
Court records show Gardas’ wife, Chelsea Gardas, 37, was taken into custody sometime Tuesday and was being held on a charge of aiding an offender to avoid arrest.
KARE-TV reported that two years ago, law enforcement located dozens of firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, soft body armor, door-breaching equipment, and what's referred to as a "doomsday room" at the suspect's home.
Shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Gardas was eventually taken into custody after what was described by authorities as an “armed confrontation” and a medical helicopter landed nearby to transport him to a hospital.
The extent of Gardas’ injury has not yet been confirmed, but initial dispatches from medics indicated Gardas had a gunshot wound to the left, upper chest. He was reported to be sedated and vitally stable en route to North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale.
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UPDATE: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released some details regarding the two-day standoff between law enforcement and Gardas. The BCA says there were exchanges of gunfire during the standoff including twice when law enforcement officers fired shots.
The first came at approximately 11:55 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 when a Wright County deputy shot an unknown number of rounds. No one was struck by those bullets. The second came at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when Gardas was struck by gunfire from a Saint Cloud police officer.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office described the apprehension of Gardas as an “armed confrontation,” and it was reported that Gardas fired at law enforcement officers more than once during the standoff.
Gardas is listed in stable condition as of Friday morning. He was airlifted from the scene in Saint Michael to North Memorial hospital where he was reported to be “awake and alert,” according to the BCA.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has taken over investigation of the incident, which is standard procedure in the state.
LATEST: Gardas Charged After Standoff
UPDATE: Gardas has been charged with 1st-degree attempted murder of a peace officer, 2nd-degree assault, 1st-degree criminal damage to property, terroristic threats, felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition, 2nd-degree controlled substance and 5th-degree controlled substance, according to Wright County officials.
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