Five hostages uninjured and suspect arrested after Minnesota bank standoff ends

In a press conference late Thursday, St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson said officers responded to a call from the bank’s manager at 1:48 p.m. earlier that day, expressing concern over a “disgruntled” man who was upset about a previous transaction.

Police were notified that the bank’s panic alarm was triggered as they were en route, and all customers fled the building, with five employees and the suspect remaining.

The suspect requested that the FBI be called in when police arrived, and an FBI tactical team and crisis negotiation team responded.

Anderson said that during the incident, negotiators had contact with the suspect “in every way possible,” including written notes placed against the bank drive-thru window.

During the standoff, McNeary used the phone and Facebook account of one of the hostages to post a livestreamed video, which reportedly showed two hostages calmly seated as FBI agents stand outside a drive-through teller window.

At the time of the press conference, investigators did not know whether the suspect was armed throughout the incident, Anderson said.

Videos posted to Twitter on Thursday evening by Jeff Wagner, a reporter for Minneapolis-based CBS-affiliate WCCO, reportedly show hostages being released from the bank. In the footage, armed officers can be seen huddled outside the bank as the individuals walk out, who are escorted away from the building.

One hostage was released unharmed just before 6:30 p.m CST, a second around 7:45 p.m., a third around 7:50 p.m., and a fourth after 8 p.m, leaving one inside, according to Wagner.

The final hostage made a run for the door around 10:20 p.m., and as he exited, law enforcement moved in and took the suspect into custody, according to Anderson.

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Officials had asked the public to avoid the scene earlier in the evening, according to Wagner, who reported that hundreds of people gathered on-site to observe the situation.