Charges: 9 guns, hundreds of rounds of ammo, meth found in Meeker Co. standoff suspect’s home

The man charged in connection to the standoff that lasted 28 hours from Aug. 1 to Aug. 2 in Meeker County now faces 12 criminal charges, according to the updated complaint.

Aaron Peterson, who police arrested after events that began when he allegedly threatened to “shoot up” his mother’s house, has been charged with felony second-degree assault, felony threats of violence, gross misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and multiple counts of gross misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm.

Court records indicate Peterson appeared in Meeker County District Court on Aug. 5, where his bail was set at $200,000, or conditional release fees of $100,000 or $10,000 cash.

The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office has updated the criminal complaint to say there were indications that Peterson was shooting at authorities during the standoff.

The sheriff says detectives confirmed this during an Aug. 4 search where casings and bullet holes were discovered at Peterson’s home in Collinwood Township, earlier identified as rural Dassel.

Detectives say they also found nine guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia and trace amounts of meth.

In connection to a November 2020 incident, Peterson was prohibited from having guns, and the criminal complaint says the August 2022 standoff began because Peterson wanted guns his mother was storing for him during his felony probation.

Peterson’s next court appearance is a contested omnibus hearing, which is currently set for the morning of Aug. 26.