Law Enforcement

A crash at Morgan Ave. and Chisago Blvd. south of Lindstrom June 19 reported at 8:45 p.m. sent both drivers to Fairview Medical Center. The preliminary details are that the car southbound on Morgan stopped at the two-way stop and proceeded across Chisago Blvd. and was hit on the let side by a westbound car. No alcohol or drug impairment was observed. Lindstrom Fire dept. also responded.

No details were available on a two car crash at #95 and Hwy 8. It was reported about 2:30 p.m. June 21 and one person was transported by ambulance. Shafer Fire also assisted. A possible medical condition caused a driver to swerve all over the freeway about 8:30 p.m. June 21. When authorities pulled the northbound car over, the deputies determined the passenger was under the influence of methadone and alcohol and she was taken to Cambridge Hospital. The driver was transported to Fairview.

Two new Internet scam cases from the week...one is a refund problem for returned items and the other concerned phony money orders, issued for more than an item’s purchase price and the buyer directed the person here to send him the difference in cash.

BOOKED
June 18
Gail Marie Grote, 54, Lindstrom. Booked by warrant. Held.

June 19
Michael Cody Schouvelier, 23, Pine City. Booked by county on Dept. of Corrections hold.
Justin Scott Boyd, 22, St. Paul. Booked by warrant. Held.

June 20
Brandon Allen Anderson, 26, Rush City. Booked by county. Held.
Alexander Charles Dropps, 25, Stark. Booked by county. Held.
Carl Frederick Smith, III, 45, Lindstrom. Held under sentence.
Nicholas Richard Axelsen, 20, Forest Lake. Booked by county. Held under sentence.
Elijah Daniel Regenauer, 32, Center City. Booked by county. Held.
Ryan Keith Ortlepp, 21, North Branch. Booked by county on probation violation. Held.

June 21
Arlen Ray Bergstrom, Jr., 20, Detroit Lakes. Booked by warrant. Held.
Steven Waverek, 48, Center City. Booked by county. Held.

June 22
Layne Anthony Vanhees, 21, Isanti. Booked by county. Held.
Nicholas Alan Dupre, 30, Stacy. Booked by warrant. Held.
Larry Scott Kartak, 43, Shafer. Booked by county. Held.
Kyle David Fairbanks, 18, North Branch. Booked by warrant. Held.

Dismissal of cat killing charge is reversed

The decision by a local district court judge to dismiss a felony charge in 2012 “invaded the province of a jury” and the MN Appeals Court has sent the case back to be tried. A Harris man was facing a trial in Judge Todd Schoffelman’s courtroom for “unjustifiably” killing an animal. Judge Schoffelman was in error when he dismissed the felony count against Mark Duane Gerard, according to the Appeals Court. The judge relied on a statement by a county deputy who stated he felt Gerard shooting the cat was justified; considering that the cat reportedly harmed Gerard’s chicks, etc.

Gerard told the deputy he had complained about the free roaming cat before to its owners. The Court of Appeals said the jury is supposed to determine if the killing was “justified,” and the trial should have gone forward. The judge “impermissably” ruled the action was justified. The case against Gerard was dismissed for lack of probable cause, but the state appeals panel said Judge Schoffelman relied on the deputy’s statement when the deputy had not “witnessed” any of the cat’s alleged transgressions. Gerard admitted to shooting the cat, causing critical injuries in June 2012. The cat’s owners called authorities and a deputy came to investigate and put the cat out of its misery.