Suicidal Man Brandishes Gun, Tequila at Dakota County Deputies

A 47-year old Farmington man is being charged with felony second-degree assault after an alleged drunken standoff with Dakota County Sheriff’s deputies during an incident just north of on Sunday, March 11. 

According to a Dakota County criminal complaint, a driver near 170th St. East and Blaine Avenue in Empire Township, contacted authorities at approximately 2:38 p.m. when he noticed a man who appeared to be drinking and staggering around a gold Volvo parked near a clump of trees south of the Coates/Dakota County dog park on Blaine Avenue.

A Dakota County Sheriff’s deputy found the vehicle parked on a narrow service approach road with the driver’s side door open. The deputy approached slowly and discovered the plates were registered to a vehicle with a KOPS (Keep Our Police Safe) alert. The alert identified the driver as suicidal and possibly in possession of a gun.

The driver was later fully identified as Cameron Blair Ackland, 47, of Farmington.

Upon receiving the KOPS alert, the deputy backed off and waited for assistance to arrive which included other deputies and an armored protection vehicle. 

According to the complaint, Ackland reportedly remained in his vehicle until becoming agitated as assistance arrived, at which time he got out holding a Patron tequila bottle in his left hand and a revolver in his right hand. Deputies remained approximately 50-yards away.

Deputies observed Ackland occasionally drinking from the tequila bottle and waving the gun around in a circular motion. Ackland failed to comply with repeated commands to drop the weapon. Deputies also stated Ackland appeared to be in a state of “extreme intoxication” and was swaying back and forth.

At one point, according to the complaint, Ackland raised the hand gun above his head and gestured toward the deputies with a jabbing motion. Ackland then started to approach the officers toting both the gun and tequila bottle before staggering to the side of the road and falling down.

As Ackland tried to unsuccessfully get back up, deputies approached with the armored protection vehicle after they noticed Ackland had dropped the gun and took him into custody.

Deputies recovered an Eibar-1927, .38 long caliber six-shot revolver and an empty bottle of Silver Patron tequila from the grass next to Ackland. The revolver was not loaded.

Ackland was transported to Regions Hospital for evaluation after being taken into custody. The felony second-degree assault charge carries a penalty of three to seven years in jail and/or up to a $14,000 fine.

In addition, Ackland is charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of carrying a pistol without a permit and carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

The charges each carry a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and/or fines of up to $3,000.