Standoff in St. Louis Park ends peacefully

BY KATY ZILLMER – SUN NEWSPAPERS

A man in a St. Louis Park duplex who reportedly made threats to harm himself or others left the home, in the 3700 block of Kipling Avenue, peacefully after more than four hours Sunday morning.

City spokesperson Jamie Zwilling said police dispatchers received a call at about 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, from a friend or family member of the man who said he made the threats.

“At that point we started to try to make contact with him and we were not getting any response,” Zwilling said.

Approximately 25 emergency responders from St. Louis Park, Edina and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office reported to the duplex.

The adult male was alone in the duplex, but had been with friends earlier in the evening on Saturday, Dec. 15, Zwilling said.

Neighbors of the man, including from one unit in the duplex and two houses nearby, were taken to the Wolfe Park Pavillion in St. Louis Park as a precaution, he said.

Police called the man’s phone and used a loudspeaker outside to attempt to communicate with him, but were not successful until he walked outside at about 9:30 a.m.

The man was not armed, but Zwilling said police did believe he had access to a firearm. As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, no weapon had been found in the man’s home, according to Zwilling.

The man was not arrested, but taken into custody for questioning, Zwilling said.

“It’s more of a mental health situation now,” he said.