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Charges: White Bear Lake man fired at officers through bedroom door, striking one three times

Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press
·4 min read
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When White Bear Lake police officers arrived at Daniel Holmgren’s apartment Tuesday night to arrest him on a felony warrant, the 33-year-old was in his bedroom with the door closed. He was belligerent and refused to come out.

Holmgren yelled loudly at the officers, told them he was “ready to die” and then fired a gun multiple times through the door, striking an officer in the stomach, pelvis and leg, according to Thursday’s criminal complaint charging him with first-degree attempted murder and four counts of first-degree assault.

Officers returned fire and retreated from the apartment, where Holmgren remained over the next several hours. He surrendered after tear gas was sent into his apartment. He was not injured.

The wounded officer, who underwent emergency surgery, remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday, authorities said. His name has not been released.

Arrest warrant

According to court records, Holmgren has a history of mental illness, civil commitments and threats of violence toward his mother, police officers and others.

The arrest warrant was issued Jan. 18 after Holmgren missed a Ramsey County court hearing on 2021 charges of felony domestic assault and felony threats of violence.

According to the criminal complaint in that case, Holmgren threatened to kill his mother, shoot a White Bear Lake officer and assault the officer’s family on March 15, 2021.

On Wednesday, Holmgren appeared in court on the case. Ramsey County District Judge Paul Yang ordered that Holmgren undergo a Rule 20.01 evaluation, which is used to determine whether a defendant is capable of communicating with a defense attorney and competent to participate in criminal proceedings.

Holmgren is scheduled to make his first appearance on the latest charges Friday in Ramsey County District Court. Prosecutors have asked for $3 million bail.

“This case is an urgent reminder that we need meaningful investments and improvement in the services available through civil commitments to protect the public when people are a danger to themselves and others,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to the injured officer, his family and the larger White Bear Lake community.”

RELATED: Daniel Holmgren family tried ‘desperately’ to get him help for mental illnesses

Standoff with police

White Bear Lake police officers went to the Lakewood Hills apartment complex in the 3100 block of Karth Road around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Four officers entered Holmgren’s apartment with the permission of a family member, according to the criminal complaint. Officers spoke to him through the bedroom door, telling him that they had a warrant for his arrest. His family member also told him officers were there to arrest him.

“Then Holmgren fired a gun multiple times from his bedroom door at the officers,” the charges state.

During the standoff with police, Holmgren “continued to threaten to kill law enforcement officers,” the charges state.

Later, after the standoff, officers recovered a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun from the bathroom next to Holmgren’s bedroom. The magazine was empty, but a live round remained in the chamber.

When agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tried to interview Holmgren, he called them “monkeys” and requested an attorney, the charges state.

Previous convictions

Holmgren is currently on supervised probation after being convicted March 3, 2021, in Ramsey County of misdemeanor domestic assault for threatening to kill his mother and her boyfriend in April 2020, according to court records.

Holmgren has one other conviction — misdemeanor domestic assault in February 2018 — that also involved his mother. According to documents, he refused to cooperate with a presentence investigation and was sentenced to 90 days in the Ramsey County jail.

Holmgren has a pending case in Dakota County filed in September 2021 in which he allegedly aggressively confronted two people in a car in South St. Paul, flashed gang signs at them and pulled out a pocketknife. He threatened them with the knife before they drove away, according to the complaint.

Holmgren was arrested in the area and later yelled and swore at officers. While in the back of a squad car, an officer told him not to spit. Holmgren responded to the officer, “I don’t spit, I shoot,” the complaint states.

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