A shelter in place notification sent to residents near 19th Street West and Maple Street on March 5 was part of a coordinated effort by local law enforcement and emergency partners to keep the community safe while officers responded to a crisis situation.
The alert came across the emergency notification network shortly after 1 p.m., notifying residents that an active incident was underway in the area. Residents with mobile devices in the area received the following message:
“Shelter in Place for Hastings at 19th St W and Maple St. This is the Hastings Police Department, as of 1:00 pm, there is an active incident in the area of 19th St W and Maple St. Shelter in place until you receive additional guidance from Police.”
Officers on the scene confirmed only that a firearm was present and that the shelter in place request was issued as a precaution to keep nearby residents safe if the weapon were used.
While the situation prompted curiosity from some residents who gathered nearby to observe police activity, Hastings Police Chief David Wilske emphasized that the shelter in place request is meant to reduce risk and give officers the space they need to resolve incidents safely.
“These are requests to allow law enforcement to keep those in the area safe and still attempt and resolve the issue peacefully,” Wilske said.
The chief explained that there are several different ways emergency alerts may reach residents during an incident. Some notifications go directly to any cell phone within a defined geographic area through a system known as Wireless Emergency Alerts.
“There are essentially two types of emergency alerts that Dakota County utilizes,” Wilske said. “The first option is Wireless Emergency Alert. These alerts can be geo targeted and we can identify time frames for the alert. All those that have cell phones within the targeted location would receive an alert. There are certain requirements that have to be met to utilize WEA and citizens do not need to sign up for them.”
Another system allows officials to send targeted notifications to residents who choose to sign up for alerts.
“The other option available for alerts are Public Safety Notifications,” Wilske said. “Dakota County utilizes Everbridge for these alerts and this does require citizens to sign up for them.”
The Everbridge system was used during the Maple Street incident, allowing authorities to notify residents within a specific area.
“This does allow us to target a certain part of the community for notification, but it is technology, so it is not perfect,” Wilske said. “Some people may be well out of the area and still receive the alert.”
What is the correct thing for the community to do?
Wilske said instructions within shelter in place messages may vary depending on the nature of the emergency. In some cases, residents may be asked to close windows, shut off ventilation systems, or take other protective steps as was the case during the fire at the creamery. In other situations, such as the March 5 incident, the message may simply ask people to remain inside until officers provide further guidance.
“With the incident this week and most law enforcement incidents, they are very fluid and generally, our request is to stay in your home if you are in the area of concern or stay away if you not in the area of concern,” Wilske said.
The situation was discussed on social media, and one aspect of the discussion was around a lack of information being given at the time the message went out. The issue is, the situation may not allow the information to be shared at the time due to the sensitivity of the information. This is a hard pill for many to swallow in today’s instant gratification society, and speculation or false information online can only cause more issues.
What about access to homes by the homeowners in the immediate area? Chief also noted that officers will often work with residents inside the affected zone when special circumstances arise.
“Usually, we can accommodate citizens leaving their homes but will most likely deny someone entry into the affected area unless it is an emergency like children home alone,” he said.
School officials were also notified during the incident and coordinated with law enforcement regarding transportation and student safety.
“We were in communication with ISD200 and they were working out any logistics concerning children that live in the area,” Wilske said. “My suggestion is that parents call the school district to determine what the plan is for those living in the affected area.”
While a shelter in place order is not ideal, the community can support the order with the above tips and using common sense. Extra traffic in the area only gets in the way of law enforcement and also poses a safety risk. When the situation is handled, information will be shared as possible with the community.
In this case, the shelter in place order was lifted at approximately 3:34 p.m. as officers cleared the scene.
Below is the full release issued by the Hastings Police Department regarding the incident.
HASTINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT
On March 5, 2026, at approximately 10:51 a.m., the Hastings Police Department received a report of a potentially suicidal male in the 1900 block of Maple Street. The reporting party stated that the male had been consuming alcohol, had access to weapons inside the residence, and that another male was also present in the home.
Responding officers were initially unable to make contact with the suicidal male. However, a roommate exited the residence and confirmed that weapons were accessible to the male. The roommate further reported that the male had expressed a desire for “suicide by cop.”
Officers issued a shelter in place notification to the surrounding neighborhood through Everbridge. Nearby roadways were secured with marked patrol vehicles, and an armored vehicle was requested to stage in the area. The South Metro SWAT Crisis Negotiation Team responded and successfully established phone contact with the male. During these communications, negotiators confirmed that no other individuals remained inside the residence. Although the male stated he would shoot law enforcement if they entered the home, he did not express intent to harm anyone else.
The male was determined to be in crisis, and a social worker assumed primary communication with him. It became apparent that the visible law enforcement presence was increasing the male’s agitation. While continuing phone communication with the crisis team, the male gradually became calmer. Based on this development, the decision was made to withdraw officers from the immediate area and allow crisis personnel to continue communication with the male.
Officers cleared the area at approximately 3:22 p.m.
Chief Dave Wilske #1401
Hastings Police Department