Meeker County Standoff Suspect Formally Charged

(KNSI) — The man accused of engaging police in a standoff that lasted more than a day has been formally charged.

According to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, 31-year-old Aaron Peterson has been charged with felony second-degree assault, felony threats of violence, gross misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and multiple counts of gross misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm.

Authorities say during a standoff at Peterson’s home in Dassel on August 1st; there were indications that he had been shooting at law enforcement. According to a search warrant executed on August 4th, detectives found numerous spent casings and bullet holes in the walls of his house. Police also say they found nine guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and trace amounts of methamphetamine. Peterson is reportedly not allowed to have firearms, and investigators are working on learning how and where he got the guns found in his house.

Bail has been set at $200,000 cash or bond for unconditional release. The judge set bail at $100,000 bond or $10,000 cash for conditional release.

The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office was called to Peterson’s home the evening of August 1st after he was reportedly threatening to kill family members. They say they contacted Peterson, but he refused to come out of the house. Negotiators worked more than 24 hours and took him into custody just before 10:00 p.m. on August 2nd.

The Kandi/Meeker SWAT team, the McLeod County SWAT team, Hutchinson Police Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office all assisted at the scene.

No one was hurt.

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