Duluth man charged following break-in and threats made with a stolen firearm

Update 4/11/25: Benjamin Conway Jr. has been charged with five felonies following his arrest on Monday.

• Burglary-1st Deg-Dwelling-Occupied-Non-Accomplice Present
• Assault-2nd Degree-Dangerous Weapon
• Possess Ammo/Any Firearm – Conviction or Adjudicated Delinquent for Crime of Violence
• Threats of Violence-Reckless Disregard Risk
• Dangerous Weapons-Reckless Discharge of Firearm Within a Municipality

Initially Report: Duluth Police say a 42-year-old Duluth resident is awaiting charges in connection to a couple of incidents early Monday morning. Authorities say the man was apprehended after a short foot pursuit and transported to a local hospital. He will be lodged at the County Jail pending multiple charges including 2nd Degree Assault and reckless discharge of a firearm.

Here is the timeline according to the police report. Duluth Police responded to a call on Monday at approximately 12:30 a.m., of an unwanted individual on the 200 block of North 1st Avenue East. Authorities arrived and learned that an unknown man with a fire extinguisher had entered an apartment. The man left when confronted by the homeowner.

Duluth Police determined that the man was linked to an earlier incident that occurred where a fire extinguisher had been stolen and a fire alarm activated in the 200 block of South Lake Avenue.

The report says several tenants reported smoke in the hallways of the building on South Lake Avenue, and that they saw a man running with a fire extinguisher and allegedly pulling the fire alarm. The tenants began evacuating the building. As officers cleared the apartment complex searching for the suspect. The Duluth Police reported another 911 call came in about a man breaking into an apartment at the address. Authorities say the man stole a firearm and discharged it in the hallway before running away.

The suspect then pointed the firearm at another individual, before running off. Authorities say another resident let the man into their apartment thinking the knock on the door was the police. Authorities saw the suspect fleeing the scene and hiding behind other residents who were evacuated the building.

Officers spoke with the suspect as he continued to flee on foot, discarding the firearm. He was apprehended a short time later.

There were no other injuries reported and the stolen items were recovered at the scene.