On April 22, 2024, at approximately 9:12 a.m. the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call regarding a possible domestic incident. Stearns County Deputies and other officers responded to the scene. The caller provided information that prompted a request for assistance from other agencies. When deputies arrived on scene, they spoke with the caller and established probable cause for misdemeanor domestic assault. The suspect, identified as Anthony Joseph Vankirk, 42, Meire Grove, was also the subject of a felony arrest warrant for second degree arson from an incident in Albany in August of 2022. Deputies attempted to make verbal contact with Vankirk from the hallway of the apartment without success. For over an hour deputies and officers on scene attempted to make contact with Vankirk verbally, by phone, and with PA announcements given from squad cars. Vankirk failed to respond or acknowledge these attempts to gain cooperation from him. At approximately 11:00 a.m. the Stearns-Benton SWAT team was called to the scene to assist. The apartment building was evacuated, and nearby residents were advised to shelter in place or leave the area until further notice. Over the next several hours attempts to contact Vankirk by phone as well as announcements and commands via squad PA continued without success. Shortly before 1:00 p.m. limited verbal contact was made with Vankirk, and he refused to cooperate with deputies. The SWAT team was utilized to force open an apartment door to facilitate more effective communication with Vankirk. Shortly after that deputies were able to see Vankirk and he began responding to commands. Vankirk exited the apartment and was placed under arrest on the domestic assault charge and the warrant. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Sauk Centre Police Department, Melrose Fire Department, and Melrose Ambulance Service. After being checked on scene, Vankirk was transported to the Stearns County Jail.
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