Man accused of shooting Minneapolis neighbor arrested after standoff

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A man accused of shoot his neighbor days ago in Minneapolis, according to police, was arrested early Monday morning after an hours-long standoff.

What’s new?

Police attempted to take a man into custody Sunday evening for allegedly shooting his neighbor who was cutting down a tree in Minneapolis.

Law enforcement officers surrounded his home on Grand Avenue South near 35th Street around 10 p.m. and for more than three hours, authorities attempted to negotiate with the suspect, whom authorities identified as John Sawchak.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said that in addition to the SWAT team, crisis negotiators had been called in, along with a psychiatrist, and that police had even spoken to Sawchak’s family. The chief explained that the SWAT team was extra cautious because, in addition to the cache of weapons, they believed the 54-year-old suspect had knowledge of improvised explosive devices.

Around 1:30 a.m., Sawchak was taken into custody after exiting the back door of his home.

What they say

“We have called in dozens of officers to assist, including members of our SWAT team, drone team, crisis negotiators and patrol, as well as command staff. I am grateful to report that after a series of steps were taken, very methodically and systematically, making constant announcements and advising the individual what we were doing at each step, the individual eventually emerged from the house safely, before we had to inject gas into the home,” Chief O’Hara said, adding, “We identified issues of concern including firearms inside and also knowledge of IEDs. Fortunately, our officers were able to peacefully arrest this individual this evening after a SWAT operation lasting several hours.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jabon Frey also commented on the issue, saying, “I know there have been several individuals, including council members, who have urged us to immediately move in and do this the wrong way. I support our police officers.”

Background

Sawchak has been committed civilly in the past. Court documents show Sawchak has an Extreme Risk Protection Order. It shows that he threatened to kill a neighbor several times, threatened to shoot his sister and slashed the tire of an off-duty police officer.

The threats and acts of violence date back to 2016. Currently, Sawchak is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder, assault and harassment after investigators say he shot his neighbor, Davis Moturi.

“In this particular case, we 100% failed this victim because that should not have happened to him,” O’Hara previously said.

On Sunday, O’Hara apologized for his officers’ response to the situation.

“The Minneapolis Police Department somehow did not act urgently enough to prevent that person from being shot,” O’Hara said.

Moturi’s wife Caroline returned to their home twice with a police escort. She previously told FOX 9 that a lieutenant asked her to be patient with police.

“I said, patience is the reason my husband got shot. We’ve been patient for over a year,” said Caroline Moturi, Davis’ wife.