Husband in custody after wife fatally shot in Crystal

A woman was fatally shot Wednesday at her home in Crystal, and her husband was arrested, police said.

Police Chief Stephanie Revering said the couple's adult son called police at 6:23 p.m. He said his father called him and told him that he'd shot his mother.

When officers arrived, the man stepped out of the house in the 4800 block of Yates Avenue N. briefly, then went back inside and refused to come out. Police negotiated with him by phone and about 9 p.m., a man in handcuffs was seen being led away from the house.

Neighbors said they saw the man outside the house with a shotgun during that time.

Revering said the man did not threaten to shoot anyone during the incident. But a SWAT team and police from Crystal, Robbinsdale, New Hope, Maple Grove and Golden Valley swarmed the area. Neighbors were asked to leave their homes.

Authorities have not released the names, but two neighbors said the couple was Dennis Sandland, 56, and his wife, Sandy Sandland, 53.

Dave Kruger said he often saw the couple walking around the neighborhood. He said he saw Sandy at the liquor store about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Carla Herling, whose house backs up to the Sandlands, sat in a lawn chair at the corner of Xenia and Fairview avenues. The Army veteran, who is disabled, said the Sandlands often helped her get to appointments or stores.

But, she said, she heard them arguing two or three times a week. "It's very, very sad, but actually not unexpected," Herling said.

Revering said the couple has three grown children.

Pat Pheifer • 612-673-7252