Man shot by police in Blaine makes first court appearance

Lamar Sullivan-Armstrong is charged with burglary and assault.

January 31, 2015 at 3:28AM
Authorities have blocked off an area on 92nd Avenue between 5th and 7th Street NE in Blaine after an officer responding to a home break-in in Thursday morning shot and wounded a suspect. Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune. ORG XMIT: MIN1501220817185350
Authorities have blocked off an area on 92nd Avenue between 5th and 7th Street NE in Blaine after an officer responding to a home break-in in Thursday morning shot and wounded a suspect. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Bail was set at $1.5 million Friday for the man shot by police in Blaine after he threatened a homeowner and officers with a knife last week.

Lamar Allen Sullivan-Armstrong, 29, of Brooklyn Park, faces multiple charges of burglary and assault. He had his first court appearance in Anoka County District Court.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman was driving to pick up her mother to deliver newspapers at 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 22. He was running through the neighborhood and crashed into her car, breaking the driver's side window.

He demanded that she get out of her car and tried pulling her through a window. She honked her car's horn to draw attention. When a neighbor came out to see what was going on, Sullivan-Armstrong let go of her, the complaint said.

He then followed the neighbor and kicked in his front door, the charges say. He grabbed several kitchen knives, threatened the homeowner and started to cut himself. The neighbor called 911 and ran outside to talk to police. Two Coon Rapids officers arrived because all Blaine police on duty at the time were engaged, authorities have said.

As the officers entered the house, Sullivan-Armstrong raised a knife toward them as if he were going to stab them, the complaint said. Police told him to drop the knife and, when he wouldn't, they shot him, authorities say.

He was treated for his injuries and released to the custody of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

"This was a very dangerous situation, and it is very fortunate there were no life-threatening injuries to anyone involved," said County Attorney Tony Palumbo. "We are thankful a neighbor intervened to help this woman, or we may have had a much different situation."

David Chanen • 612-673-4465

Lamar Sullivan-Armstrong
Lamar Sullivan-Armstrong (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

David Chanen

Reporter

David Chanen is a reporter covering Hennepin County government and Prince's estate dealings. He previously covered crime, courts and spent two sessions at the Legislature.

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