Large Police Presence Leads to Capture of Minnesota Fugitive After Standoff

Waseca, MN (KROC-AM News)- A standoff outside of a southern Minnesota home ended with the arrest of a fugitive Thursday.

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That’s according to a news release issued by the Waseca Police Department. A large law enforcement presence swarmed the residence after locating the fugitive.

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Minnesota Fugitive Captured After Standoff at Empty Waseca, MN Home

The news release says the standoff began around 9:00 Thursday morning at a multi-unit home in the 200 block of 10th Ave. Southeast in Waseca.

Police say the fugitive, identified as 37-year-old Luis Ricardo Barajas, had an active Minnesota Department of Corrections arrest warrant and had cut off his electronic ankle monitor.

Members of multiple law enforcement agencies, including a SWAT team, surrounded the home and attempted to call Barajas outside.

Authorities did not receive a response for more than an hour and deployed teargas into the residence after confirming Barajas was the only person inside, the news release says.

There was no response after the tear gas deployment. Law enforcement confirmed a second time no one was inside and then moved into the residence, authorities say.

Once inside, law enforcement found Barajas had entered a different unit in the structure through the ceiling. Authorities obtained a search warrant for the unit and captured Barajas upon entry, the news release says.

Barajas was evaluated by medical personnel before being taken to a detention facility.

Court records indicate Barajas was convicted of first-degree burglary assault in Hennepin County in 2019 and was serving the supervised release portion of the 70 month prison sentence he was handed in the case during Thursday’s standoff.