Standoff south of Maddock: SWAT team called, several charges pending

The morning of June 25, the usually calm atmosphere around Maddock was interrupted with the sounds of sirens and several emergency vehicles rushing southbound on Highway 30.

At 9 a.m., Benson County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a call from a rural Maddock resident stating a male had stolen a pickup from an outbuilding on the property and was now stuck in a creek near the property line. BCSO arrived on scene and observed a male in the driver’s seat with the window cracked open. Sheriff Laura Wanzek attempted verbal commands to have the male exit the vehicle when he began waving a handgun out the window of the pickup and attempted to cover the window with a black garbage bag. Sheriff Wanzek retreated for cover and called in for assistance. She instructed the property owners to vacate the property for safety.

For approximately three hours, the male remained in the pickup pointing the handgun at the driver’s door in the direction of officers staged. Negotiations were attempted by drone public address system with no success in having the male surrender.

Minot SWAT arrived on scene with an armored Bearcat to attempt negotiations and non-lethal actions to apprehend the suspect. The male exited the pickup and surrendered without incident. The male suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was transported for medical care and was later air flighted.

The male will be identified at a later date. Formal charges for terrorizing, theft, and unauthorized use of motor vehicle are pending.

All officers and property owners were unharmed. Other agencies assisting were the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Wells County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Dispatch, Rugby Police Department, ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, ND Highway Patrol, Lake Region UAS team, Maddock Fire Department, Maddock Ambulance and Towner County Ambulance.