ST JOSEPH, Minn. — Law enforcement officials say a suspect has been arrested in connection to an assault of a Minnesota State Patrol trooper.
According to authorities, the suspect was located near Sagatagan Lake on the campus of St. John’s University at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
At around 11 a.m. Thursday, the university was placed on lockdown after the Stearns County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a Facebook post that they received credible information that the suspect had entered St. John's campus.
The suspect was stopped by a State Patrol Trooper under suspicion of driving while impaired, but after a preliminary breath test the suspect punched the trooper and fled on I-94, with officers in pursuit. When all four car tires of the suspect were damaged by spike strips, he began to flee on foot.
During the pursuit, an officer saw the suspect reach his arm out of his vehicle while holding something that the officer claims could have been a firearm.
According to an update from the Minnesota State Patrol around 11:30 a.m., the suspect reportedly robbed an individual and took their clothes, cell phone and car keys. State Patrol believes the suspect may have changed clothes, but they say he did not steal the victim's car.
Authorities say trooper who was assaulted suffered multiple fractures to his jaw which requires surgery. The surgery is scheduled for Friday.
The suspect was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for observation and will be booked into the Stearns County Jail when released, according to the State Patrol.