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Minneapolis security forces sergeant apprehends intruders

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Gregoire
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
What started out as an ordinary patrol for a 934th Security Forces Squadron reservist ended with the capture of two civilians at 2:30 a.m. July 23.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Klefsaas, a full-time Active Guard and Reserve member, stopped his patrol car, shined a spotlight and discovered two people laying flat on the ground. The intruders used a pair of wire cutters to enter Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, an Air Force Reserve Command installation.

“I did what the Air Force has trained me to do – be constantly observant – and it helped me detect these people,” Sergeant Klefsaas said. “I was concerned because I didn’t know what these people were capable of, what they had done or what they could do.”

The sergeant challenged the suspects and called for backup. Tech. Sgt. Brian Wahlstedt helped him handcuff the men and transport them to the Security Forces Control Center to await the arrival of deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. The incident is still under investigation so the suspects’ motives are unknown, said Maj. Theodore Ruminsky, 934th SFS commander.

A search in the immediate area revealed wire cutters. About 50 yards away, in the civil engineering salvage area, the searchers found a hole in the fence.

As of Aug. 4, Hennepin County has not officially charged the suspects, but the charges could include destruction of government property, trespassing and restitution for damages to the fence.

“We were extremely happy with the capture of the intruders. We swept the rest of the base, and the Air National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing searched their area of responsibility to ensure the entire base was secure,” said Major Ruminsky.

Officer Shawn McMahon, the desk sergeant on duty, used a state-of-the-art camera system installed in May to monitor the nearby areas as well as the rest of the installation.

“We’re certainly excited about the new technology,” said Major Ruminsky. “In the past, we were limited by the manpower factor; the patrolman had to be at the right place at the right time in order to observe and react to something.

“These surveillance cameras and thermal imagers greatly increase our ability to detect and observe situations,” he added. “It’s a force multiplier. We now have coverage throughout much of the installation. This technology really enhances our situational awareness, and it will only get better in the future with the addition of new sensor systems.”

The major expects the base to install a sophisticated ground radar system later this year.