A hit-and-run accident ended with the suspect driving his car into the Mankato Walmart, then holding police at bay for a half-hour with what turned out to be a pellet gun.

Authorities say the 47-year-old man from Minnesota Lake had been involved in a minor traffic accident about 6 a.m. Thursday. The suspect drove away, then was followed by Blue Earth County Sheriff Brad Peterson into the Walmart parking lot.

After the man drove through the store doors, Peterson and a Mankato police officer followed him into the store. Customers were asked to leave the store, and after a half-hour standoff, the man surrendered his pellet gun and was taken into custody without incident.

The man was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.