RURAL FRANKLIN MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER STANDOFF WITH NEW ULM OFFICER

A 44-year-old rural Franklin man is in custody in Brown County after a standoff with a New Ulm Police officer early Thursday morning near New Ulm.  Shane Lawrence Santoro was charged Friday with two counts of felony firearm possession by a person convicted of a crime of violence and felony receiving stolen property in Brown County District Court.  Court documents say a New Ulm police officer was driving westbound on Nicollet County Road 37 into New Ulm when he saw a  black Ford Ranger pickup parked on the road idling.  The officer then met the same pickup on Highway 15 near Bridge Street and pulled it over near the Skyview Lane trailer park for a tail-light that wasn’t lit.  The officer directed Santoro to step out of the vehicle, which he refused to do.  Santoro reached into his left hand hoodie pocket and which point the officer retreated to the cover position with his weapon drawn.  The officer saw Santoro point a silver handgun at his own head.  Eventually Santoro unloaded the magazine and threw it to the side.  Santoro was arrested without any further incident.  He was taken to the hospital to get medically cleared.  The handgun was entered as stolen from Nicollet County.  Santoro is being held in the Brown County Jail on $100,000 bail.  His next court appearance is scheduled for  May 28.