Young Child Safe After Police Chase and Stand-Off in Austin

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - Authorities have identified a man who was involved in a 10 hour long standoff with Austin police that involved a seven-year-old child.

A news release issued this afternoon by the Austin Police Department says the situation began around 10:30 Sunday night in Owatonna where police attempted to make contact with 48-year-old Kristofer Luiken in connection with a disturbance at a convenience store. The statement says Luiken responded by fleeing with the young child inside his vehicle and striking an Owatonna police vehicle.

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Owatonna police then issued a region wide alert calling for the man's arrest on fleeing police, child endangerment, reckless driving, and hit and run charges.

According to Austin police, Luiken was spotted a short time later by a State Trooper driving south on Highway 218 into Austin. At some point, Luiken drove over a "stop stick" and the tires on his vehicle were deflated.

He kept going, but then parked in front of a residence in northwest Austin, where Austin police officers and State Troopers made contact with Luiken and spotted "numerous knives, bear spray, and a can of gasoline" in the front seat area of the vehicle. The news release says the law officers at the scene tried to convince Luiken to release the child and surrender, but he refused and would not get out of the disabled vehicle.

After about 10 hours of negotiations, Austin police say Luiken surrendered peacefully shortly after 9 o'clock this morning. The unidentified child was then safely released to family members.

Luiken is currently being held in the Mower County Jail pending the filing of formal charges.

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