A man with a handgun sent Phalen Beach into lockdown Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a man with a firearm at Phalen Beach, said Nikki Muehlhausen, a spokesperson for St. Paul police, in an email. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

The suspect, an adult male, was located on the beach and taken into custody “after a short foot pursuit,” Muehlhausen said. Officers safely recovered a handgun that was on the suspect.

The man has since been booked into Ramsey County Jail for threats of violence and fleeing police.

The beach went into lockdown as a safety precaution, Muehlhausen said. The free guarded beach, located at 1400 Phalen Drive, is a popular summer destination with a splash pad and kayak rentals.

The incident remains under investigation.

Suni Lee statue

Lake Phalen was in the headlines last week as a statue of gold-medal-winning gymnast Suni Lee was stolen.

Last Thursday afternoon, July 31, part of the installation — a large rock that says “Suni” — was found by park workers and lifeguards in Lake Phalen and pulled out.

When artist Seexeng Lee was notified that the artwork had been stolen, “My jaw just dropped,” he said. The statue, which weighs 30 to 50 pounds, has not been found.

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