Police News Releases

We're kicking off summer with the first of three Safe City Nights, and you won't want to miss it!

Join us for 3 nights of community fun at its best. These events bring together the Moorhead Police Department, Fire Department, Moorhead Police Athletics and Activities League, Parks and Recreation, and local businesses for an evening packed with activities for all ages.

Mark your calendars for the summer series from 5:30-7:30:

• June 17 at Robert Asp Elementary (910 11 St N)
• June 24 at Queens Park (3201 20 St)
• July 15 at Romkey Park (800 19 St S)

The Red River Valley SWAT Team will conduct a training exercise in Moorhead on Thursday, June 4, from 12–4 pm in the 800 block of 17 St N.

During this scheduled training, community members may see SWAT personnel carrying training firearms and moving around the exterior of a building. No live rounds will be used at any time. Residents in the area should expect to hear loud noises, yelling, and see SWAT vehicles with emergency lights activated. These activities are part of the controlled training environment, and there is no safety concern for the public.

If residents have questions or concerns during the exercise, they may contact the Red River Regional Dispatch Center at 701.451.7660 and ask to speak with a training facilitator at the site.

This training session is closed to the public and members of the media.

The Moorhead Police Department will host a press conference on Thursday, May 28, at 10:30 am at the Moorhead Law Enforcement Center to provide an update on the investigation involving the parents of the Horizon Middle School student who brought THC to school last week.

During the investigation, MPD detectives recovered significant amounts of suspected THC products that exceeded Minnesota’s legal possession limits, psychedelic mushrooms, and more than $70,000 in cash. This evidence relates to the arrest of Moorhead residents Martin Hulst (40) and Amanda Hulst (43), the parents of the juvenile involved. Both individuals were charged with Felony 1st Degree Controlled Substance and remain innocent unless proven guilty. Multiple juveniles in the residence were also referred to Clay County Social Services.

There are no new developments in the case at this time. However, the MPD will be sharing photos of the items recovered during the search warrant. These images are intended to help the community understand why the situation raised serious concerns and to support parents in recognizing what these items may look like.

This investigation remains active, and remarks during the press conference will be limited to what can be responsibly shared.

The Moorhead Police Department thanks the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their ongoing assistance and the Moorhead community for its engagement and support.

A search warrant executed on Tuesday, May 19, by the Moorhead Police Department has resulted in the arrest of two adults connected to an incident earlier in the week at Horizon Middle School.

On Monday, May 18, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the Moorhead Police Department responded to Horizon Middle School after receiving a report that several students had become ill after consuming candy brought to school by another student.

On April 24, 2026, at approximately 11:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to a report that an adult male had been struck by a vehicle. Emergency responders located the victim, who was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition.

During the initial investigation, officers learned that the caller knew both the suspect and the victim, and the incident was not random. Officers identified the suspected driver as 40‑year‑old Roel Rivera of Moorhead. Rivera was located, arrested, and taken into custody without incident. He is currently being held at the Clay County Correctional Facility on charges of Attempted Second‑Degree Murder and Felony First‑ and Second‑Degree Assault.

This incident remains under active investigation. No additional details are available at this time.

On April 17, 2026, at approximately 2:41 am, the Moorhead Police Department responded to a report of gunshots in the 1100 block of 3 St S. Officers were unable to verify the initial report and found no damage or victims. 

At around 4:45 am, the Red River Regional Dispatch Center received additional calls of gunfire in the same area. Officers returned to investigate. Shortly after 5 am, a resident reported that a possible suspect had entered a home in the 1100 block of 3 St S. As officers approached the residence, they located a discarded rifle near the front of the property. The firearm was secured, and officers made phone contact with a person inside. 

Officers attempted to safely resolve the situation with the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Malachi Shabaiash of Moorhead. Those efforts were unsuccessful and Shabaiash fled the residence on foot, armed with what appeared to be a rifle. Officers immediately established a perimeter, and a shelter-in-place alert was issued to nearby residents.

A coordinated search was conducted, with assistance from a Clay County Sheriff’s Office K9 team and the Moorhead Fire Department who deployed a drone. The drone assisted in locating Shabaiash, who was hiding in a backyard and was still in possession of a rifle. The K9 team was utilized to take them into custody. 

Shabaiash was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained from the K9 apprehension and later booked into the Clay County Jail. Shabaiash is being held pending longform complaint charges from the Clay County Attorney’s Office.

After Shabaiash was safely detained, a second alert was issued lifting the shelter-in-place.

Following Shabaiash’s arrest, investigators received additional information; a victim came forward and reported that earlier in the morning, Shabaiash fired at them as they drove away in a vehicle. The vehicle appears to have been struck several times and has been towed for processing and evidence collection. The victim and Shabaiash are known to one another. 

This incident unfolded rapidly, and the Moorhead Police Department is grateful for a safe resolution; there is no ongoing threat to the public. 

Moorhead Police Department is asking that if residents discover property damage consistent with this incident or have any video that capture shots fired, to contact Red River Regional Dispatch Center and request to speak with a Moorhead Police Department supervisor.

The Moorhead Police Department would like to thank the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, and Moorhead Fire Department for their assistance.