Update: St. Joseph Home Invasion Suspect Arrested

ST. JOSEPH (WJON News) -- The Stearns County Sheriff's Office has released more information about the hours-long standoff in St. Joseph.

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What Started the Standoff

The incident began at about 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday when they received a 911 call from a home in the 9300 block of County Road 138 in St. Joseph Township.
The caller said a man known to them had broken into their home and was armed with an axe.

The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Ernest Gerdes of St. Joseph.  Deputies and St. Joseph Police Officers responded to the caller's home and also the suspect's home at 400 1st Street in St. Joseph.

How the Standoff ended

Gerdes was spotted inside his home still in possession of the axe.  The Stearns-Benton SWAT team was activated at about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday.  At about 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, members of the St. Cloud SWAT team breached the home and arrested Gerdes.

He was treated for minor injuries and transported to St. Cloud Hospital for further evaluation.  He was later taken to Stearns County Jail. He's facing charges of 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Assault, Threats of Violence, and Criminal Damage to Property.

Gerdes is the subject of an Extreme Risk Protection Order that was granted on September 14th of this year and is valid for one year.