Suspect In Minnesota State Trooper Assault Captured On Saint John's University Campus

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Stearns County Sheriff's office says the suspect in an assault on a Minnesota State Patrol trooper has been captured Thursday evening on the campus of Saint John's University in Collegeville.

The university was on lockdown for almost 10 hours as law enforcement from more than a dozen agencies searched for the man.

The state patrol says the 29-year-old suspect was stopped on suspicion of drunk driving at about 7:30 a.m., but fled after attacking the trooper. The suspect then led police on a chase along Intestate 94, which ended after officers used stop sticks to blow out the suspect's tires. The suspect got out of the car and ran off.

Authorities said the suspect then robbed a victim of their clothes, cellphone and keys. The victim's car wasn't stolen, but investigators think he changed his clothes to evade detection.

The state patrol says the suspect was arrested without incident -- and they say without the use of force -- at about 6 p.m. near Lake Sagatagan. He was taken to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital to be checked out before being booked in the Stearns County Jail.

The trooper he attacked suffered several jaw fractures, and will undergo surgery Friday.

The state patrol said law enforcement members from 16 different agencies were involved in the manhunt, with at least three tactical teams that searched buildings in the area. Search dogs and helicopters were also used.

University officials announced just after 6 p.m. that the lockdown ended after all campus buildings were cleared.