SHAKOPEE - What had evolved into a statewide manhunt after the fatal shooting of a business executive last month ended without incident Thursday outside an Arby's in Shakopee.
Lyle Marvin "Ty" Hoffman was arrested about 10:17 a.m. while on foot in the fast food restaurant's drive-thru when police apprehended him, according to Shakopee police. He was not armed.
"It's a good day," Sgt. John Eastham of the Ramsey County sheriff's office said of the arrest. "From the family, to the law enforcement community in Minnesota, to the civilian population, it's a good day for everybody."
Aided by law enforcement agencies across the state, the Ramsey County sheriff's office has been the lead agency tracking Hoffman since he allegedly gunned down his former life and business partner, Kelly Phillips, outside a Holiday gas station in the Twin Cities suburb of Arden Hills on Aug. 11.
Police received a report of a suspicious person outside the fast food chain from a concerned citizen, said Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate.
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"They did the right thing, they called, monitored (Hoffman) the whole time," Tate said. Ben Christensen, who owns a jewelry store across the street from the Arby's, said Hoffman looked "dirty and very disheveled" during his arrest.
He was wearing what appeared to be jeans and a hooded sweatshirt along with a baseball hat that resembled the one seen in images of Hoffman plastered across Wanted posters seeking the former fugitive, Christensen said.
He added that Hoffman appeared a lot skinnier than he did on the poster.
"He didn't look dangerous," Christensen said. "It just looked like police were talking to somebody who was homeless."
His capture brings a collective sigh of relief for the whole community, Christensen said.
"Just knowing that somebody who doesn't have anything to lose was loose in your area was a little bit nerve-wrecking" Christensen said. "You wonder when the dog starts barking at night... I think everybody will rest easier knowing he is off the street."
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By Sarah Horner, St. Paul Pioneer Press
