Early morning shoppers had quite the surprise at Mankato’s Wal-Mart store today.
 
At about 6:20 a.m. Thursday, police dispatch reported a hit and run at the intersection of Highways 14 and 22. At the time, Blue Earth County Sheriff Brad Peterson was less than one mile away as he was heading in to work at the Justice Center. Upon hearing the report, Peterson immediately headed north toward the incident and spotted the suspect vehicle traveling south on Highway 22.  Peterson says he began pursuit with his lights flashing and the suspect slowed but didn’t stop, instead turning into the large parking lot at the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club complex. 

Peterson says it appeared the suspect might have been waving a handgun when he stopped in front of Wal-Mart’s grocery entrance on the east side of the building. Peterson ordered the man to drop the weapon but instead the suspect backed up and rammed Peterson’s truck, then took off around the parking lot. 

After following him, Peterson says the vehicle again paused in front of the grocery entrance doors, but instead of stopping the suspect turned sharply and drove right through the glass doors into the grocery section. The vehicle navigated the wide aisles and managed to avoid product displays.

Peterson and an arriving Mankato police officer pursued the man inside.

Peterson says even though a car was in the store and two officers were coming with their weapons drawn, some shoppers continued about their business until Wal-Mart personnel helped clear them to a secure location. Meanwhile the suspect, mumbling something about President Obama, still refused to throw his weapon out. Peterson says he never pointed the gun at anyone and he finally tossed it out the car window. It turned out to be a pellet gun.

According to police, when the suspect became distracted two other officers who had arrived on the scene rushed the vehicle,  pulled the man out and handcuffed him. He was taken to Immanuel St. Joseph's - Mayo Health Center for a mental evaluation. Charges requested include first degree assault and fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

The man has been identified Raymond Mager, Jr., 47, of Minnesota Lake. No one was injured during the incident.