Man charged after shots fired, Ramsey, Minn., SWAT standoff
By MN Crime Watch, March 20, 2023
A Ramsey, Minn., man is facing felony charges after allegedly firing shots into the air in his neighborhood that led to an hours-long stand-off involving SWAT on Sunday.
Thomas Dean Stroup, 30, has been charged in Anoka County District Court with felony counts of second-degree assault and threats of violence in the incident that played out on the 14700 block of Xkimo Street Northwest on March 19, 2023.
Charges say police responded to the address just before 4 a.m. on a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers spoke to the victim who said he had met a man earlier that night at a bar. The man was identified as Stroup. The victim said he went to Stroup’s house, and they got into a verbal argument. The victim left, and Stroup followed him outside. The victim told police that once he was on the road, Stroup fired multiple shots into the air, pointed the handgun at him, and threatened to kill the victim. The victim started to run away and heard more shots coming from Stroup as he ran away. Officers located four fired cartridge cases.
Stroup locked himself inside his residence before officers arrived. Officers were able to successfully contact Stroup after numerous attempts and he was taken into custody after 8 a.m. without incident.
Officers searched Stroup’s house pursuant to a signed search warrant, and multiple firearms were located inside the residence.
Stroup was convicted in 2012 on felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct which would preclude him from possessing firearms. Stroup was placed on probation for a term of two years following his conviction in that Hennepin County case. At the completion of his probation, the felony conviction was converted to a gross misdemeanor pursuant to Minnesota statute 609.13. As such, it’s possible that Stroup’s gun rights were restored at that time. Court records show Stroup was released from probation or monitoring in June 2015.
Stroup has a pending case charged in Anoka County in February on two gross misdemeanor counts of DWI. Stroup posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody after making a first court appearance in that case.
Stroup remains in custody on the new felony charges and is being held without a bail amount listed awaiting a first court appearance on Tuesday, March 21 at 9 a.m.
###
Crime Watch exists because city officials, police administrations, and mainstream Minnesota media refuse to give you adequate public safety and crime information that you need and deserve. Crime Watch is a volunteer effort now in its 13th year of providing original content reporting and information that you won’t get elsewhere.
This volunteer work is sustained through the support of our followers. Thank you to all who place value on our content and output across social media. Become a Patron or Donate: Crime Watch Mpls/Twin Cities | Linktree.
