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Charges filed in July 2019 Highway 95 fatality

A Cambridge resident is charged in the traffic-crash death of a North Branch man and authorities attribute the death to distracted driving.  

Thomas Crowson, 27, is charged with two felonies for criminal vehicular homicide and for criminal vehicular homicide operating a vehicle in a grossly negligent manner.  His next court date is not scheduled yet.

According to the complaint,  Crowson was heading westbound on Highway 95 when he slammed his pickup truck into a vehicle, that was then shoved into a stopped car in front, that was yielding to opposing traffic, make a left turn into Access Church.  One of these vehicles, a Chevrolet Cruze passenger car-- was pushed into the oncoming lane, where the victim was traveling alone on a motorcycle.  The victim was identified as Larry Cooper,  58, North Branch.

The state patrol reconstruction experts and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators worked on the evidence over several months.  Crowson’s two iPhones and an iPad were seized by state patrol at the scene. Forensic investigators reported in the complaint that the iPhone screen data showed there was a Snapchat connection pulled up on it five to six seconds before the impact.

Crowson stated at the scene, according to the complaint,  he was driving about 60 miles per hour and he glanced down to check the clock on his dashboard device,  and when he looked up he saw brake lights and was unable to avoid a collision.

Weekly reports:
September 13
Sheriff patrol recovered a stolen ATV in Stacy. Isanti authorities were picking up to return.

September 12
Catalytic convertor cut off a pickup parked at West Rush Lake access.

September 9
Two days from the start of school the first vaping/tobacco citation issued at Chisago Lakes High School.

A firearm was found floating in South Center Lake, turned into the sheriff’s office.

A garage on Railroad Avenue in Chisago City was hit by a vehicle sometime overnight, damage discovered in morning. There were also two mailboxes hit a little further down the street

September 8
Sheriff’s patrol arrested a suspect in a burglary incident reported in Rush City at Nelson Apartments. The suspect reportedly carried an axe. Incident reported about 1:30 a.m. He was located shortly after and jailed.

September 7
A chicken coop caught fire about 4:20 a.m. on Mica Road and 380th. Almelund Fire handled and contained damage to the one structure.

BOOKED
September 4
Andrew Joseph Ballweber, 27, Stacy. Booked by county. Held.
Kelly Jolene Neuman, 40, Taylors Falls. Booked on arrest and detain order. Held.

September 5
David Wayne Peterson, 52, Hugo. Booked for court. Released.
Jeffrey Paul Hollen, 44, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.

September 6
Frank Joseph Tregoning, 33, St. Anthony. Booked by state patrol. Held.
Nicholas Leefiddick Villella, 35, Harris. Booked by county. Held.
Brian Edward Johnson, 44, Stanchfield. Booked by county. Held.
Jennifer Amanda Zerkle, 34, IA. Booked by North Branch Police. Released.

September 7
Andrew John Franklin, 31, Shafer. Booked by county. Held under sentence.

September 8
Gregory Scott Spencer, 42, St. Cloud. Booked by county, held.
Alexander Daniel Bemis, 21, Mora. Booked on warrant. Released.
John Fitzgerald Keep, Jr. 23, Wyoming. Booked by Wyoming Police. Released.
Shane Michael Anderson, 40, North Branch. Booked by county, held under sentence.

September 9
Chad Douglas Pendzimas, 37, Harris. Booked by court. Released.
Cristin Lawrence Schmidt, 41, Chisago City. Booked by Lakes Area. Released.
Mark Paul Revier, 50, Chisago City. Booked by Lakes Area Police. Released.
Christine Ann Risberg, 43, St. Paul. Booked by state patrol. Released.
Daqual Romello Gonnigan, 25, St. Paul. Booked by county, held under sentence.

September 10
Lance Daniel Dewuske, 56, Shafer. Booked by county. Released.
Donald Paul Deloye, 31, Maplewood. Booked by county. Released.

September 11
David John Orlando, 34, Wyoming. Booked by arrest and detain order. Held.

September 12
Darin Peter Guckeen, 53, Forest Lake. Booked by Wyoming Police. Released.
Rena Matilda Shepard, 64, North Branch. Booked by county. Released.
Sean David Schally, 35, St. Paul. Booked by county. Held.

September 13
Juan Lopez Martinez, 28, IL. Booked by Wyoming Police. Released.
Jeffrey Paul Hollen, 44, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.
James Patrick Sternquist, 43, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.

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