(JPD) On August 4, 2022, at approximately 10:41am, Stutsman County
Communications dispatched officers to 119 5th St NW #9 in Jamestown. It was reported that a
victim had been held there against their will overnight. The suspect had threated to kill the
victim, and she had just escaped. Officers interviewed the victim and identified the suspect.
Kevin Gene Garnica (age 41) with no confirmed address, made threats over recent weeks that he
would injure or kill law enforcement, and had warrants out of Pierce County, ND. Initially a
shelter in place request was made for the neighborhood as officers set up a perimeter and
attempted to contact Garnica. Additional information was gathered that Garnica may be armed
with both a knife and a gun, prompting the evacuation of a daycare and surrounding apartments.


When Garnica failed to answer his phone, the front door to the apartment was breached using an
armored vehicle. A robot was used to deliver a phone so negotiators could speak with Garnica.
Contact was made and broken several times over the hour’s long stand-off. At 1:57pm, Garnica
attempted to flee the apartment with a large knife in his hand. Officers deployed less-lethal
impact munitions, striking him several times. He returned to his apartment and barricaded once
more. Contact was re-established intermittently over several more hours. Negotiations with
Garnica stopped progressing and at 4:23pm, OC and CS gas was deployed into the apartment,
forcing Garnica to surrender. He and several officers were treated at the scene for exposure to
the gas. Garnica was transported by Jamestown Ambulance to the Jamestown Regional Medical
Center for treatment of minor injuries. Reports will be forwarded to the Stutsman County State’s
Attorney for formal charges.


The Jamestown Police Department was assisted by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, North
Dakota Highway Patrol, North Dakota Probation and Parole, James Valley Special Operations and Crisis Negotiations, North Dakota Department of Corrections, Jamestown Ambulance,
Stutsman County Emergency Management, Jamestown Public Works, Jamestown Fire
Department, and numerous individuals from the community who brought water and other
services. Thank you to all those who assisted.