Suspect in Custody After Shooting Injures 5 Officers in Benton County, Minnesota
A suspect has been apprehended in the hours following a shooting incident that left five officers injured in Benton County, Minnesota, on Thursday morning.
The victims of the shooting are all members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force, as confirmed by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Fortunately, all five officers are expected to survive their injuries.
According to Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck, the incident occurred when the task force members were executing a search warrant in the vicinity of the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township, located just west of Princeton.
During the execution of the warrant, the officers encountered the suspect, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two parties. In the subsequent hours, the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect sustained injuries during the confrontation and was subsequently transported from the scene for medical treatment. The extent of the suspect’s injuries remains undisclosed at this time.
Of the five officers injured, three were from the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, one from the Princeton Police Department, and another from the Elk River Police Department. Fortunately, their injuries have been described as non-life threatening.
Sheriff Heck also mentioned that deputies from his department were present at the scene during the incident but did not sustain injuries.
NEW photo of an injured individual being loaded into an armored vehicle before being whisked away to a nearby chopper for medical attention.
At least five officers have been shot in Glendorado township in rural Benton County.
Follow @wcco for the latest. pic.twitter.com/JEmDhrAqNw
— Guy Still (@mplstvguy) October 12, 2023
Footage captured by Sky4 helicopter around 11 a.m. showed an individual being loaded into an armored vehicle; however, it has yet to be officially confirmed if that individual was indeed the suspect.
Officials are scheduled to hold a news conference at 3 p.m., which will be streamed live by CBS News Minnesota.
Key moments from Sky4 footage:
- At approximately 10:15 a.m., an individual in a red robe was observed approaching law enforcement outside the property, raising their arms, and later returning to the residence.
- Around 10:45 a.m., the same individual, now without the robe, was seen sitting outside the house. They appeared to get up before being struck by a non-lethal projectile, emitting green mist into the air.
- Shortly after 10:50 a.m., an individual was loaded into an armored vehicle and then transported to a helicopter.
The scene witnessed the presence of sheriff’s deputies from Benton and Sherburne counties, as well as squads from the Minnesota State Patrol. SWAT vehicles were also in the vicinity, with at least one helicopter monitoring the area.
Glendorado Township is situated approximately 60 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) has responded to the incident involving the shooting of five officers, further underscoring the significance of the event.