by Dennis Dalman
Gun violence erupted against five law-enforcement officers Oct. 12 in Glendorado Township in southeast Benton County, injuring the officers who will fortunately all survive their wounds.
The 64-year-old assailant, Karl Thomas Holmberg, was also shot during the stand-off and is being treated for injuries at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.
The incident made national news.
Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck released details of the violent incident at a press conference.
The officers shot included three undercover Sherburne County sheriff’s drug task-force deputies (Glendorado Township is directly adjacent to Sherburne County), and two police officers, one from Princeton, the other from Elk River. Those two police officers were also working undercover.
A volley of gunfire began when the officers attempted to serve a warrant to the man who lives on the property near the intersection of Glendorado Road NW and 190th Avenue NE, an area west of Princeton.
Two of the Sherburne County deputies were taken to St. Cloud Hospital and have since been released. The three other officers are still being treated at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. Heck said all of them are expected to survive non-life-threatening injuries.
Heck said just after 7 a.m., officers announced themselves multiple times before attempting to enter the home. That’s when Holmberg started shooting, according to the report.
Two of the officers were struck in their protective vests. Since the officers were working undercover, their names will not be released.
A woman inside the home at the time was taken to a hospital and has since been released.
Heck described the assault against officers as “a difficult day for us in Benton County.” He credits quick responses from other agencies and trained negotiators for ending the violent incident. Benton County Sheriff’s deputies, who were also at the scene, were not injured.
Holmberg, who shot the officers, has prior convictions for felony offenses on his record, Heck noted, but he declined to give more details at this time. Holmberg was finally persuaded by negotiators to finally exit the house and was then arrested at 10:47 a.m.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the assault.
Karl Thomas Holmberg
