Update: Austin Police Chief Dave McKichan said  the Austin/Mower Special Incident Response Team did not find anyone inside of Runnings during their search of building.

Further investigation indicated a burglary had taken place and that the suspects left before law enforcement set a perimeter.

The matter is now being investigated and Austin Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Previous Version: Austin, MN (KROC-AM News)- A high-risk response team is conducting a search of a retail store in the southeast Minnesota community of Austin

See Also: Renamed Dangerous Weather Warning Issued in Rochester, MN for First Time 

That’s according to Austin Police Chief Dave McKichan, who says the Austin/Mower Special Incident Response Team is among a large law enforcement presence at the business. 

Monday morning’s response involving local and state agencies started with an alarm activation, McKichan said. 

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Large Law Enforcement Response to Possible Break-in at Runnings Store in Austin, MN

The Austin Police Department responded to the alarm call around 6 a.m. Monday at Runnings, which is located at 1400 18th Ave Northwest. 

McKichan said it appeared the alarm was triggered by a possible break-in, not an employee. 

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Members of the Austin Police Department, Mower County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol responded to the store to set up a perimeter while the Austin/Mower Special Incident Response Team conducts a search of the building, the Austin Police Chief said. 

No other information is available as of 9 a.m. Monday. 

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Austin Police Dept. photo
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The City of Austin’s website describes the Austin/Mower Special Incident Response Team as a group of 12. 

Nine members are Austin Police Officers and three are Mower County Sheriff’s Deputies. The team gets called in to deal with what are deemed as high risk incidents, such as people threatening suicide or barricaded suspects, the webpage says.

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The team, which was started in the Fall of 1987, also includes hostage negotiators, the city’s website says.

11 Common Products Now Banned in Minnesota

Minnesota is implementing a first-of-its-kind ban on products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals," starting January 1, 2025. The legislation prohibits the sale of the following common household items with these harmful chemicals, aiming to protect public health and the environment.

Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now

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