Standoff with armed man shuts down I-35 near Faribault

FARIBAULT, MN – Interstate 35 came to a standstill on a Sunday afternoon as authorities dealt with a tense situation south of Faribault in southern Minnesota. The Rice County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident unfolded around 2:52 p.m. when a 41-year-old driver fled from law enforcement while heading northbound on Interstate 35. After stopping his vehicle, the man brandished a handgun and moved into the southbound lanes of traffic.

Authorities maintained a cautious watch as the armed individual paced along the interstate for several hours. Eventually, around 7 p.m., after employing non-lethal tactics, a SWAT team and a State Patrol special response squad successfully apprehended the man. Despite the man reportedly firing his gun multiple times during the standoff, no injuries were reported.

A video circulating online suggested that a police canine might have played a role in the arrest. The Rice County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement later that evening, confirming the peaceful resolution of the standoff and the safe apprehension of the suspect.