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Alleged kidnap results in four felony charges

Authorities arrested a 48-year-old man alleged to have offered a woman a ride and then held her against her will at a house in Harris, November 15.

Jesse Ericson is charged with four felony counts including false imprisonment and criminal sexual predatory conduct.

A sheriff spokesperson told the Press the victim, 30,  was offered a ride from a Motel 6 parking lot in Roseville by the suspect.  

The woman had accepted Ericson’s assistance to leave the scene after a verbal domestic dispute in the lot, according to preliminary reports.  Once she was in Ericson’s car he started heading back to Chisago County. The report saysshe was told he had  to check on his dog at home.  

She was finally able to call 9-1-1 hours later, when Ericson was out of the room and give a description of the home on Government Road, where she was held.  North Branch officers assisted deputies in responding to the woman’s 9-1-1 call.

County Attorney Janet Reiter said the defendant’s record suggests the victim was in real danger.  Reiter adds, “Fortunately the sheriff’s office and North Branch Police were able to respond quickly before any physical harm could come to the victim.”

Citations being contested in 2013 fatal; trial date set

The county attorney’s office is pursuing two misdemeanor charges of wrongful U turn and careless driving in connection with a fatal crash 16-months-ago, that  resulted in the death of Sherwin Johnson, 73, of Lindstrom.

County Attorney Janet Reiter explained that the state patrol performed an extensive investigation and the agency’s findings don’t rise to the level of proving gross negligence by the operator of the vehicle Johnson’s motorcycle hit.  The careless charge is the most severe legally possible.

Driver Alissa Nollan, 26, of Columbia Hts. has pleaded not guilty.  Nollan’s trial is scheduled to start December 1, with pre-trial next week.
Johnson was on his 1988 Honda motorcycle volunteering along the route of  the Chisago Lakes Triathlon July 29, 2013,  when he crashed  into the driver’s side of Nollan’s Subaru Impreza, as it allegedly made an illegal U turn at an intersection in Chisago City, in front of him on Hwy 8. 

REPORTS
Police and deputies responded to various calls of abandoned vehicles and minor injury accidents over the week and there were a few calls due to injury from falls.

November 11 deputies and North Branch Police went to a report of a person in a car not conscious, about 2 a.m. The case was determined to be an attempted suicide. Driver was put on a 72 hour hold and his dog was placed with North Branch animal control.  

Theft of two decorative windmills and gasoline from an address where renters had recently been evicted.

 There was a “found dog” report to Lakes Area Police November 12, which resulted in a Humane Society investigator being called in due to the condition of the wandering dog.  Upon inspecting the homesite of the animal, multiple dogs were lacking water, food and shelter.  The case is being worked on in cooperation with the humane society.  The home is on Stacy Trail.

Two students were cited Nov 12 at the Chisago Lakes High School for disorderly conduct.  Police were dispatched there about 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 Dale Evangelical Free Church, Brunswick Rd. reported theft of their new snowblower.

November 13 smoke was engulfing a section of Northgate Apartments on Third Avenue in Lindstrom, reported about 4:30 a.m. Residents were evacuated and the incident handled. One person went to Fairview for medical care.

November 14 a chimney fire was reported at a home on Olinda Trail.  Center City, Chisago City and Lindstrom firefigters responded. The fire was called in about 8:30 p.m.

November 15 a house fire reported in the north end of the county on Rush Lake Trail, about 8 a.m.  Braham Fire assisted local firefighters. No injuries reported.  Rush City Dept. is being assisted by the state fire marshal investigating a cause.

BOOKED
November 10
Cameron Wayne Ghost, 40, Lindstrom. Booked on warrant by Lakes Area. Held.

November 12
Donald Gerard Heilman, 41, Hinckley. Booked on warrant. Held.
Alexander Charles Dropps, 26, Stark. Booked by county. Held.

November 13
Carleton Luke Cooke, 49, North Branch. Booked by Washington County. Held.

November 14
Jesse Joseph Schiller, 25, Stacy. Booked by county, held under sentence.
Matthew Charles Weaver, 21, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.

November 15
Shane Paul Nelson, 31, Lindstrom. Booked by county. Released to another facility.
Jesse Ericson, 48, Hinckley. Booked by county. Held.

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