MOA standoff: Police negotiate peaceful ending in parking lot, no threat to public

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Police say there is no longer a threat to the community after a standoff earlier Friday left one person in custody.

According to the Bloomington Police Department, around 4 p.m. a woman called dispatch stating a man in a white truck in the parking of American Boulevard and 24th Avenue had a large gun.

The caller stated the man then went inside a circus tent in the parking lot and was walking around. FOX 9 crews spoke with a witness who said the man threatened staff in the tent.

Responding officers observed the man in possession of a shotgun in the parking lot. Verbal contact was made, but he refused to drop the weapon, according to police.

People were evacuated from the nearby tent as well as a hotel across the street while officers attempted to negotiate.

Around 6:15 p.m., police were able to get the man to drop his weapon, and retreat to his vehicle, which officers had blocked in.

At 6:43 p.m., the man stepped away from his car and was detained by nearby officers.

He was transported by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center. 

He was not arrested, and is not currently in custody, according to police.