SWAT team, FBI, National Guard aid in Brooklyn Park domestic violence investigation
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The FBI and Brooklyn Park police are investigating a home for a possible hazardous substance.
Around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, the Brooklyn Park SWAT team executed a high-risk search warrant in the 6400 block of Zealand Avenue.
They were responding to a domestic violence situation, but also discovered castor beans at the home.
"I was asleep, and I could tell there was some pulsing on my window shade," said neighbor Tom Pugh.
Pugh woke up to the sight of police lights flashing in his neighborhood. And after doing some investigating of his own, he learned why they were there.
"That kind of throws me off when something like that happens nearby. OK, so what did I miss?" said Pugh.
While responding to a domestic abuse call, the Brooklyn Park SWAT team learned someone in this Zealand Avenue home may have castor beans. Those can be used to make ricin, which is a deadly poison — and there is no antidote. As a result, police contacted the FBI and the Minnesota National Guard's 55th Civil Support Team.
"I guess I'm always concerned about anything that may harm anybody in my neighborhood, my family, so yeah it would be an issue that would bother me," said Pugh.
For much of Thursday, law enforcement vehicles were parked outside, and people in hazmat suits could be seen going in and out of the home.
When they initially arrived, police say they safely detained the people inside. And they took a 54-year-old man into custody for probable cause attempted murder.
He is currently being held at the Hennepin County Detention Center. Though law enforcement has declared the neighborhood safe, Pugh said he spent much of the day researching ricin and what makes it so dangerous.
"When you start seeing big trucks and big vehicles coming down here with markings on them, yeah it's not a good feeling," said Pugh.
Police said the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and more information will be provided when it becomes available.
Domestic Violence Resources: For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.
