Woodbury Man Warns of Shoot-Out With Police in Meth-Induced Rage

A Woodbury man was sentenced to 15 days in jail and five years' probation after being convicted of felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and gross misdemeanor domestic assault on Nov. 30.

According to a Washington County criminal complaint filed on April 26: 

John Albert Gerst, 38, was arrested on April 24 after responded to a report of a possible domestic situation at the 6100 block of Tahoe Circle.

When officers arrived, however, they heard a woman exiting the residence ask Gerst if he had any guns with him.

Officers immediately became concerned for their safety and began issuing commands for Gerst to exit the house, remove his hand from his pocket and put down his cell phone, the complaint says.

Gerst then became "confrontational" and allegedly told police he didn't have to listen to their commands because he was at his house.

Once officers calmed down Gerst and approached him, they noticed him acting "very irrational and appeared very nervous."

Gerst was also talking incoherently, flailing his arms and rubbing his hands and fingers together continuously, the complaint says. 

Responding officers found his behavior consistent with someone under the influence of methamphetimine.

Upon searching Gerst, officers found a six-inch fillet knife in his back pocket and a three-inch glass pipe in his front pocket. The pipe field-tested positive for methamphetimines.

In a post-arrest interview of the woman at the scene, officers identified the woman as Gerst's sister and determined she had called 911 after her brother threatened to hit her over the head with a shovel. 

During the argument with his mother and sister, Gerst warned them not to call police because, if they did, "there would be a shoot-out."

In addition to 15 days in prison and five years probation, Gerst's sentence includes but is not limited to:

• Completing an intake for cognitive skills; 
• Completing a psychiatric evaluation; 
• Continue taking all prescribed medications;
• Abstaining from chemicals including alcohol and submit to random testing;
• Attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotis Anonymous meetings weekly for 3 months and obtain a sponsor;
• No use/own/possession of any weapons of any sort and no living in a residence where they are present; and
• Paying a $100 fine