A Dickinson resident barricaded himself to avoid arrest prompting a response from the Southwest Tactical Team early Sunday afternoon on the 900 block of Third Avenue West in Dickinson.
At 9:10 a.m., Dickinson Police Department patrol officers attempted to locate a wanted male and made initial contact with an unrelated male identified as Jeffrey Stern in the yard of the residence. During a conversation, Stern provided his name and abruptly turned around and proceeded into the residence of the home. Officers remained outside, and soon learned that Stern was a suspect in a Minot, ND, theft from the day prior.
Much of the alleged stolen property was located outside the residents by officers, who were notified that some of the stolen property included a firearm. According to the Dickinson Police, Stern was advertising a rummage sale at the address when officers first made contact with him.
A search warrant for the property at the residence was issued by Stark County District Court, and a risk assessment was completed by patrol. Based on information received, the Southwest Tactical Team was activated to serve the search warrant.
According to one of the two residents of the dual rented property, Tim Menges, officers instructed him to leave the property while they attempted to deal with Stern, who had escalated the situation into a barricaded suspect scenario prompting the response of the Tactical Team.
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"I wish he'd just give himself up," Menges said. "What is he going to do? Go so far as to have the SWAT team bust the dang door down?"
A two block stretch of Third Avenue West was closed to both pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic in anticipation of the Tactical Team having to make entry into the home. Members of the Dickinson Fire Department and Dickinson Area Ambulance were stationed at Rocky Butte Park within a few blocks from the scene.
Pedestrians in the area commented on the bullhorn communication directed at the barricaded subject, stating that they heard police issuing commands for the subject to surrender himself or forced entry would be used and the subject's safety compromised.
Service of the search warrant was attempted at 12:30 p.m., but Stern remained barricaded inside the residence for nearly an hour before surrendering to authorities without further incident.
Stern was transported to the Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center in Dickinson where he is initially being held on the charges of felony Possession of Stolen Property, with further charges related to the obstruction of the search warrant pending.
