Minnesota State Patrol officers deployed a military-grade crowd-control device Monday night as unrest over federal immigration enforcement spread into the suburbs following days of violent demonstrations in the Twin Cities.
Troopers confronted roughly 200 protesters outside the SpringHill Suites in Maple Grove, where demonstrators believed federal immigration agents were staying.
When the crowd ignored repeated dispersal orders, officers announced they would activate a long-range acoustic device, or LRAD — a system designed for the U.S. military to project focused, high-decibel sound waves that can command or disperse crowds.
The LRAD, often mounted on vehicles or tripods, can transmit clear voice messages for miles or emit ear-splitting deterrent tones that disrupt balance and cause intense discomfort. Officials confirmed the device was used only in voice mode, not for deterrent tones, though online rumors claimed otherwise.
Authorities declared the gathering unlawful after protesters damaged property, blocked traffic, and threw debris at officers. The confrontation ended with 26 arrests for unlawful assembly and riotous conduct.
The protest came amid fallout from the fatal January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed during a clash with federal agents in Minneapolis.
The incident ignited nightly protests tied to Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s effort to remove criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota.
Law enforcement sources said demonstrators targeted the hotel, believing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and several agents were inside, though officials have not confirmed that.
In a statement, Maple Grove Police said the department “respects First Amendment rights” but “will not tolerate property damage or violence.”
Officers said they issued repeated warnings before the LRAD announcement.
The device’s use has renewed debate about its safety and legality. Medical and defense experts warn that at close range, the LRAD can cause permanent hearing loss, ruptured eardrums, nausea, vertigo, and panic.
Marine Col. Mark Cancian, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described it bluntly: “We used it in Iraq. If you’re in the cone, it sounds like the voice of God is speaking to you.”
Even when used for voice commands only, the system can exceed 140 decibels at full power. Cancian said that when operated correctly, the LRAD can de-escalate situations without tear gas, rubber bullets, or other kinetic force. “It can avoid lethal outcomes while asserting control,” he said.
Video from Monday’s protest showed troopers surrounding the hotel while loud commands echoed through the area. Several protesters later complained of ringing ears and dizziness, though no hospitalizations were reported.
The use of LRADs comes as “sonic weapons” have drawn renewed public interest following remarks from President Donald Trump last week.
Discussing the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump said the U.S. military deployed “amazing weapons nobody else knows about,” adding, “It’s probably good not to talk about it.”
Reports from Venezuela claimed U.S. special forces used a directed-energy device to incapacitate Maduro’s security personnel.
One guard described a “very intense sound wave” that caused bleeding and disorientation.
While those claims remain unverified, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted the account, calling it “a modern marvel of American defense.”
Analysts caution that the LRAD used in Minnesota is not the same technology allegedly employed abroad.
The LRAD is commercially available and classified as a non-lethal crowd-management system, whereas military “sonic” weapons operate at much higher frequencies and energy levels.
Still, the timing has fueled speculation that Minnesota’s deployment marked a domestic test of advanced U.S. acoustic systems — something law enforcement officials have denied.
“This technology was used strictly for communication and public safety,” a State Patrol spokesperson said. “Our goal was to prevent physical confrontation.”
