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In a statement following the incident, Maple Grove Police said the department “respects First Amendment rights” but “will not tolerate property damage or violence.” Officers emphasized that multiple warnings were issued before the LRAD was even mentioned.
The unrest stems from anger over the January 24 shooting death of Alex Pretti, a 37 year old ICU nurse killed during a confrontation with federal agents in Minneapolis. His death became a rallying point for nightly protests tied to Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s crackdown targeting criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota.
Law enforcement sources said protesters specifically targeted the Maple Grove hotel because they believed Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and other agents were staying there. Authorities have not confirmed those claims.
As video from the scene circulated online, critics renewed long standing concerns about the safety of LRAD technology. Medical and defense experts warn that exposure at close range can result in hearing damage, disorientation, nausea, vertigo, and panic.
Marine Col. Mark Cancian, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the system’s psychological impact 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 deployed in voice only mode, LRAD systems are capable of exceeding 140 decibels at full output. Cancian said that when used properly, the technology can actually prevent worse outcomes.
“It can avoid lethal outcomes while asserting control,” he said.
Several protesters claimed after the incident that they experienced ringing in their ears and dizziness. Officials reported no hospitalizations.
The Minnesota deployment comes as public interest in so called sonic weapons has surged following comments made last week by President Donald Trump.
While discussing the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump hinted at secretive U.S. military capabilities.
“amazing weapons nobody else knows about,” Trump said, adding, “It’s probably good not to talk about it.”
Unverified reports from Venezuela alleged that U.S. special forces used a directed energy device to incapacitate Maduro’s security detail. One guard described experiencing a “very intense sound wave” that caused bleeding and disorientation.
Though those claims remain unconfirmed, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the account online, calling it “a modern marvel of American defense.”
Defense analysts caution that the LRAD used in Minnesota is not comparable to classified military technologies allegedly deployed overseas. The LRAD is a commercially available system classified as non lethal and commonly used for crowd management and maritime security.
Still, the timing of its use has sparked speculation among activists that Minnesota served as a testing ground for more advanced domestic crowd control tools. State officials firmly rejected that narrative.
“This technology was used strictly for communication and public safety,” a State Patrol spokesperson said. “Our goal was to prevent physical confrontation.”
As protests continue to erupt nationwide in response to federal immigration enforcement, Minnesota’s incident highlights the growing tension between law enforcement and activist groups willing to escalate demonstrations into physical confrontations.
For now, state officials say the LRAD deployment prevented a more dangerous outcome. Critics argue it crossed a line. The debate over where public safety ends and coercion begins is only just getting louder.
