Tue, Feb 13th, 2024 - 4:20pm
April 09, 2024 - 6:26pm | By Tom Tucker
(Fargo, ND) -- INITIAL REPORT: WDAY Radio Now has learned that there is currently a presence of Fargo Police officers in the 3000 block of 18th St. S.
The newsroom has requested information from the police department about the incident.
More information will be provided as details are made available.
This is a developing story.
UPDATE (Tuesday: 6:19 p.m.)
The following information regarding this story was released late Tuesday afternoon by the Fargo Police Department:
"At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, members of the Metro Area Street Crimes Unit were attempting to locate and arrest 39-year-old Joshua Steckroat (no permanent address) for an outstanding warrant related to a probation violation.
Officers with the Fargo Police Department and Cass County Drug Task Force assisted when contact was made with Steckroat, who had been temporarily living inside a garage in the 3000 block of 18th Street South in Fargo.
When Steckroat saw officers, he ran inside the garage. Officers gave several verbal commands, identifying themselves as the police and ordering him to exit the garage; Steckroat refused to obey the commands.
Officers forced entry into the garage and located a female who willingly exited and was detained.
The female, identified as Rebecca Wilkin (35-year-old Fargo resident), was arrested for an outstanding warrant for marijuana possession.
Officers proceeded with additional verbal commands ordering Steckroat to exit the garage, but he continued to refuse to obey.
FPD’s K9 Uno was utilized to search the garage, but was unsuccessful in apprehending Steckroat.
As the incident continued to develop, officers discovered that Steckroat was concealing himself in the rafters of the garage.
Due to Steckroat’s concealed position, officers utilized a chemical agent that is designed to temporarily cause irritation to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes within the garage; resulting in Steckroat surrendering peacefully.
Steckroat was taken to a local healthcare facility to be evaluated for the exposure to the irritant.
After being medically cleared, Steckroat was transported to the Cass County Jail for preventing arrest and outstanding warrants for violating probation, failure to pay child support, driving under suspension and fleeing in a motor vehicle.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office assisted in responding to this incident."
