Justin Michael Dellwo, the man who assaulted a woman and kept a community at bay for hours last week, was officially charged in court this week on three felony counts.

Dellwo held Wright County deputies at bay for 17 hours last week as he hunkered down in his disabled vehicle near a school in Monticello. Dellwo is facing charges of brandishing a firearm (ammo), possessing a “machine gun” or “short-barreled shotgun,” and fleeing police. On count one, Dellwo could face a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of $30,000, or both. On count two, he faces a five year sentence and a $10,000 fine, or both. For count three, he faces three years and one day, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Crime Recap

Last January 26, 2021, at approximately 12:23 a.m., Deputy Tanner Dufresne was dispatched to Albertville on a report of a domestic assault involving a firearm. Dufresne had previously responded to a domestic assault by strangulation incident at that residence the day before (Jan. 25) at 8:06 p.m., in which Justin Michael Dellwo had assaulted and choked his wife. Dellwo fled from the residence after assaulting and strangling his wife during the earlier incident. 

While responding to the second call, Dufresne learned from dispatch Dellwo had a gun to his head upon returning to the residence. Dispatch advised Dufresne that Dellwo again left the residence driving a 2004 Buick Rendezvous with Minnesota plate CWR400.

Dufresne saw a vehicle driving west on Co. Rd. 37 as he was responding. Dufresne followed the vehicle and observed it pull over after turning onto Jason Ave. NE. Dufresne pulled behind the vehicle confirming it was the one reportedly driven by the defendant. Dufresne activated his squad car’s emergency lights, stepped from his squad, and ordered the driver to turn off the vehicle. 

Dellwo disobeyed the command and began fleeing from Dufresne, driving on Jason Ave. NE. Dufresne pursued the vehicle with his emergency lights and siren activated. Dellwo continued to flee entering Monticello and turning onto Fenning Ave. Deputies deployed spike strips to disable defendant’s vehicle during the pursuit. Dellwo’s vehicle became disabled due to a combination of the deployment of the spikes and apparent mechanical difficulties and stalled out on Fenning Ave. S. of I-94. 

Several deputies conducted a high risk stop of the defendant due to the presence of a firearm. 

Dellwo refused to comply with commands or instructions and began trying to start his vehicle, which he was able to after many attempts. He proceeded north on Fenning Ave. and completed a U-turn after a short distance and began traveling south on Fenning Ave. Deputies deployed additional spike strips further disabling the vehicle causing the defendant to stop prior to reaching School Boulevard at a location adjacent to Eastview Education Center. 

Deputies observed defendant in possession of a long gun inside the vehicle. A significant law enforcement presence converged on this location surrounding defendant in his vehicle and establishing a perimeter around the area by blocking access to nearby streets to protect the community and maintain the safety of the citizens living and traveling nearby. 

Law enforcement negotiated with defendant for a lengthy amount of time and were met with a continuous refusal to cooperate by Dellwo. Dellwo maintained this standoff with law enforcement for more than 17 hours. refusing to get out of his vehicle or cooperate in any way. 

At approximately 6:00 p.m., members of the Wright County Emergency Response Team, in collaboration with law enforcement from Hennepin County and Sherburne County, deployed a chemical agent into defendant’s vehicle forcing him to exit the vehicle. Dellwo refused to follow commands upon exiting the vehicle and was struck with a foam baton round debilitating him and effectuating his arrest.

Following defendant’s arrest, the firearm he possessed was retrieved by law enforcement from the vehicle.

The firearm was a semi-automatic AR 15 type rifle that was loaded with a round in the chamber. The length of the barrel on the rifle was 11.5 inches making it a ‘short-barreled shotgun’. 

Court records show defendant was convicted of Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth-Degree (Possession) on March 5, 2020, in Court File 02-CR-17-5455, a crime of violence, making him ineligible to possess a firearm.