Police in Benton County are on the scene of what is being described as a “critical incident” after it was confirmed that five law enforcement officers were shot and taken to hospitals in St. Paul and St. Cloud.
The news broke as first responders swarmed the area just west of Princeton, Minnesota. Benton County Sheriff Troy Hack released the following information Thursday afternoon.
"Five members of the Sherburne County Drug Task force were shot all are expected to survive after being confronted by a suspect while executing a search warrant at a home in Benton County."
During the incident, the sheriff says officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect who was arrested. He was also injured and taken to the hospital. The exact cause and extent of the injuries of the suspect are not known at this time.
However, multiple neighbors reported to WCCO's Susie Jones that the suspect was shot in the leg before being taken into custody.
"It's really unfortunate something like that would happen because I mean, people are just doing their job," said neighbor Mike Mago. "The police, whether it's you doing yours, I do my job, the police are doing their job. They get paid to do what they do. And for someone to, especially this, I think he's in his seventies. He should be more rational. I mean, why take it out on them?"
Another neighbor told WCCO Radio that he believed the house was a "drug house", and another neighbor said that they believed that the suspect has just gotten out of prison.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office is expected to speak Thursday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. to further update reporters on the suspect's condition and provide more detail.
The officers who were shot are said to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The five come from Princeton Police, the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, and Elk River Police.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there is no danger to the public at this moment, but those in the area are asked to avoid 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.