Author: Matt McConico

Cloquet High School and Middle School Evacuated After Alleged ‘Swatting’ Call, CPD

CLOQUET, Minn. – Cloquet Police say they received a call reporting a bomb and a person with a gun outside of the high school but have since given the ‘all clear.’ Around 12:16 p.m. today, a call came into Carlton County dispatchers reporting a bomb and a person with a rifle at Cloquet High School. According to a press release…

After 2 Years on the Run, Man Accused of Sex Crime is Back in Minnesota to Face Charge

DULUTH, Minn. – A man charged with sexual assault in Minnesota was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Maine, after spending two years on the run. After spending over two years on the run, 42-year-old Samuel Adam Linkert is back in Minnesota. Linkert is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from an alleged assault that occurred at a Duluth residence…

Two Men From Illinois Assaulted Man in Hibbing Over Owed Money, Charges Claim

HIBBING, Minn. – A daylight attack by two men in Hibbing last Friday against another man who owed them money resulted in a high-speed chase, authorities say. Two men have been charged in connection to an assault on another man in Hibbing last Friday. According to the charges, the suspects, Kimonte Travion Cadge, 27, and Genio Taroyes Keller, 31, are…

Meth and Firearm Found after Vehicle Chase in Cass Co

Authorities say approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine and a 9mm pistol were found

CASS LAKE, Minn. – A cordial traffic stop turned vehicle pursuit resulted in the discovery of 80 grams of meth and firearm, according to Leech Lake Tribal Police. What started as a cordial traffic stop last Thursday quickly turned into a vehicle pursuit,  the discovery of 80 grams of meth and a firearm. On Thursday, a Leech Lake Tribal Police Officer…

Accused Stalker Arrested Again While on Pre-Trial Release

PROCTOR, Minn. – A man was granted pre-trial release after submitting guilty pleas in two cases; but “within two hours” of leaving custody, the victim said his attempts to contact her continued. Over the last eight months, multiple criminal cases have been filed against Rocky Allen Wrazidlo Jr., 27, of Proctor, for charges including harassment, first-degree burglary, and false imprisonment….

Rock Ridge High School Employee is Suspect in Child Sex Crime Investigation

The employee has not been arrested but was placed on paid leave

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A Rock Ridge High School employee is on paid leave, after the St. Louis County Sheriff and the Minnesota BCA began investigating him for child sex crimes. In a Friday press release, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said they had conducted search warrants at multiple locations across Virginia and Eveleth on Mar. 6, including at the…

New Richmond Police: 70-Year-Old Man Murdered Wife Before Attempting to Dispose of Body

The couple were former long-time residents of Superior

NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. – Police say a 70-year-old man murdered his wife, before then disposing of her body in a rural area. On Sunday, Mar. 2, New Richmond Police responded to the residence of 70-year-old Gordon Charles Laakso and his wife, 68-year-old Mary Laakso. According to a press release, “The 911 caller indicated that Mary’s husband…made statements that led them…

Hibbing Man Used App to Send Child Sexual Abuse Material, Charges Allege

Law enforcement claim they connected the man to multiple different accounts on the app

HIBBING, Minn. – Law enforcement say they found “unused children’s underwear” and “a bouncy house,” when searching the home of a Hibbing man charged with sharing explicit videos of minors on a messaging app. On Friday, 45-year-old Joshua John Eckstrom of Hibbing was charged with nine felony counts for disseminating CSAM over the messaging app ‘Kik.’ The investigation into Eckstrom…

Sawyer County Arsonist Remains at Large as Victims Remain Fearful

The string of fires last November saw homes and businesses destroyed

SAWYER COUNTY, Wisc. – As some victims attempt to rebuild, they grapple with the fear of an arsonist still at large. Nearly 100 days since the last fire, the small communities and towns in the southeastern Sawyer County have been left scarred. The six structure fires occurred over a nine-day period in late November and impacted homes, businesses, and even…

Charges: Park Point Burglary Suspect Carried Hammer

There were no injuries reported from the incident

DULUTH, Minn. – Charges say a man entered a stranger’s home on Park Point with a hammer and pliers. Around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Duluth Police responded to a residence on Minnesota Ave on Park Point for reports of an intruder with a weapon. When officers arrived, they were able to identify the suspect as 42-year-old Brian Adam Burba of…

Hear From Candidates in the Race for Superior’s 6th District

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – There are only two contested races in this year’s Superior City Council elections. FOX 21 interviewed District 2 incumbent Jenny Van Sickle, and her challenger Sarah Anderson last week; but this week the focus shifted to the other contested race in District 6. Tylor Elm has held District 6 since 2017 and now faces contention from first-time…

Woman Airlifted After Fingertip Bitten Off During Aurora Assault

The woman's current condition is not known by law enforcement

AURORA, Minn. – Police say a woman’s condition is still unknown after having her finger bitten off in a midday assault, this past Monday. According to charging documents, East Range Police were called to the Iron Gate Apartments in Aurora around 12:30 p.m. on Monday for reports of an assault. Officers said that when they arrived, they found 29-year-old Madusu…

Two Harbors Man Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A Two Harbors man has been found guilty of sexually abusing his underage female family member. This comes after 45-year-old Michael Brian bailey previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to sexually assaulting a different underage female family member. The newest allegations came to light in 2023, by the victim. She said she was 5 years old when…

Fentanyl found during traffic stop in Carlton County

CARLTON COUNTY, Minn. — Carlton County Deputies say they found nearly half a pound of suspected Fentanyl under the hood of a car during a traffic stop on Thursday. The sheriff’s office was informed by other law enforcement officers to be on the lookout for a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Johnny Glendale Williams. According to the charges, Deputies learned there…

Man Arrested for Child Sex Crimes, After Initially Claiming he was Assaulted by Juvenile

FOND DU LAC RESERVATION – Police say they responded to a call from man in his 60s claiming to have been assaulted by a juvenile; but further investigation into the incident led to child sex crime charges against him. Fond Du Lac Police arrested 62-year-old Phillip Alexander Petite Tuesday on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a child. The arrest…

Online Investigation Leads to Child Pornography Charges Against Superior Man

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Investigators say they located multiple examples of child sexual abuse material when searching devices found in Patrick Anthony West’s room. In early January, the Wisconsin Department of Justice passed on a “CyberTip” to Superior Police from the Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). According to a criminal complaint, the NCMEC said suspected child pornography had…

Hear From Candidates in the Race for Superior’s 2nd District

*Click the video above to hear from both candidates* SUPERIOR, Wis. – A challenger has emerged in the race for Superior’s 2nd District. In the usually quite political environment of Superior, challengers have appeared in some of the 2025 municipal elections. Councilor Jenny Van Sickle has represented Superior’s 2nd District since 2017 and now faces a challenge from first-time candidate…

Aitkin Daytime Stabbing Hospitalizes 2 Women; Suspect Later Arrested in Ramsey County

AITKIN, Minn. – Police say they found a bloody scene when responding to a slashing at a residence in the quiet community of Aitkin, that left two women in the hospital. Aitkin Police responded to a residence on First Street Northwest around 10:56 a.m. on Wednesday after they received a call that a female had been stabbed. Officers found the…

Shooting in Rural Cass County

BACKUS, Minn. – A victim’s condition is unknown after a shooting in rural Cass County last Thursday. Cass County Sheriffs responded to a residence near rural Backus around 11:30 p.m. Thursday evening after reports of a shooting. According to the sheriff’s office, first responders found a 36-year-old male with gunshot wounds at the scene, who was transported by air to…

Charges Filed After Hermantown Police Chase

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A man told police he had to urinate before taking Hermantown Police on a miles-long midnight chase Tuesday, according to police reports. 54-year-old Justin Lee Briggs has been charged with fleeing police, after an attempted traffic stop around 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday. The police report said an officer attempted to stop Briggs’ vehicle because it had no…

Charges Filed, Following ‘Firearm Call’ Sunday in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – A 19-year-old is in custody for threatening his friends with a pistol during a night of drinking, according to Superior Police. On Sunday, Superior Police responded to an apartment on the 1800 block of Iowa St in the Billings Park neighborhood around 8:46 p.m. for what the criminal complaint described as originally for, “an unwanted guest, but…

Brainerd Man Charged with Sexual Assault of Stepchild

BRAINERD, Minn. – Charges allege that a Brainerd man sexually assaulted his stepdaughter for years, before she came forward to her mother and police. Authorities have charged 34-year-old Fred Robert Stumbo of Brainerd with three counts of criminal sexual conduct after allegations that he sexually assaulted his stepdaughter. The girl, who the report said is now 15, and her mother…

Duluth Judge Rules Serial Break-In Suspect Incompetent to Stand Trial

DULUTH, Minn. – A judge rules that the suspect in a series of violent break-ins last November is incompetent to stand trial. For three days in November, Duluth Police were attempting to catch the perpetrator of brazen home invasions in the Woodland neighborhood. Police arrested and charged 59-year-old Jeffery Scott Montana with five felony counts, that together, could carry up…

Superior Council Debates How To Fund Lead Pipe Replacements

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The Superior City Council had quite the lengthy discussion Tuesday night on whether to support a change to state statute that would allow federal dollars into the city to help replace lead water pipes. The discussion went on so long that a vote will happen at the next council meeting Feb. 18. The change in state statute…

Minn House Reaches Agreement to End Historical Standoff

ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time this legislative session, the Minnesota House of Representatives saw chairs fill up on both sides of the aisle. The historic standoff between the DFL and Republican caucuses came to an end, after party leaders reached a power sharing agreement earlier today. When the session began three weeks ago, a vacancy in the…

View Search Warrants into Investigation of Infant Left At Duluth Shelter

FOX 21 provides the signed warrants and sworn affidavits from department's search of Safe Haven

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Chief of Police Mike Cenoywa released a video statement Wednesday regarding two search warrants that were executed at a shelter operated by Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center on Jan. 21. According to the two warrant applications sworn to by Officer Ryan Puhle, and warrants signed by Judge Shawn Reed, officers responded to a call from…

Duluth Police Chief Releases Statement After Newborn Surrendered at Shelter

Police say the newborn is safe with a foster family

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police say their investigation into the events from January 21, are focused on the health of the infant and the mother and identifying who dropped the baby off at Safe Haven; not into the shelter itself. Chief of Police Mike Ceynowa, released a video statement, followed by a written press release, Wednesday afternoon. Two search warrants…

Woman Charged for Hit and Run in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Police arrested a woman for a hit and run that occurred last week in Duluth and sent a woman to the hospital. Brittney Elizabeth Johnson-Hamilton, 39, of Duluth was charged for last Tuesday’s hit and run at the intersection of North 12th Ave East and 2nd Ave East. According to the police report, a witness told officers…

Newborn Left at Duluth Shelter Triggers Police Investigation

Duluth Police say they were called to Safe Haven, over claims a baby was left outside the shelter

DULUTH, Minn. – Search warrants for the Safe Haven Shelter in Duluth show an ongoing investigation, after a staff member called police to report a newborn was abandoned outside in subzero temperatures. Around 5:00 pm on January 21, Duluth Police responded to a call from the Safe Haven Shelter. According to warrant applications, Shelter Director Ethan Powers had found a…

Carbo Found Guilty at Second Trial For 1986 Chisholm Murder

  DULUTH, Minn. – After the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned his previous conviction, a jury re-convicts Michael Carbo of the rape and murder of Nancy Daugherty in her Chisholm home back in 1986. The 1986 murder and sexual assault of 38-year-old Nancy Daugherty in her home rocked the largely quiet Iron Range community of Chisholm. The case remained cold for…

Murder Charges Filed in 2023 Fentanyl Overdose Death

DULUTH, Minn. – The man, who authorities allege sold fentanyl laced oxycontin that caused the overdose death of a Duluth woman in 2023, was arrested on murder charges Tuesday afternoon. Jason Allen Nelson, 32, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of 3rd-degree murder by means of selling or distributing fentanyl.  A warrant for his arrest, according to St. Louis County…

Aurora Townhome Arson Suspect Charged; ‘I Lit It Up’

AURORA, Minn. – A woman faces multiple charges after officers allege she “calmly” admitted to igniting the blaze that spread through her townhome. Authorities say they’ve charged 35-year-old Stephanie Dawn Beddo with 1st-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to her townhome in the Iron Gate Apartment complex. Police say they responded to the complex around 3:45 pm Friday for reports…

Drug Deal Results in Shooting in Duluth Township

The shooting suspect allegedly expressed disbelief in only causing minor damage

DULUTH, Minn. – Police say they’ve charged a 19-year-old after a drug deal gone bad resulted in 10 shots being fired and left a young woman with minor injuries. Authorities have charged 19-year-old Evan Edblom with 2nd-degree assault for last Tuesday’s shooting in Duluth Township. According to court filings, police became aware of the shooting when a 19-year-old female arrived…

Kozy Building Demolition Deal Seeks to Revive Area with Historic Look

DULUTH, Minn. – Years of lawsuits, multiple fires and several suggested solutions later, the former Kozy Bar and Apartments in Downtown Duluth is coming down. The Pastoret Terrace, commonly known as the Kozy, has been the subject of legal battles for a decade and a half. The city of Duluth has wanted to clear the dilapidated complex that sits at…

Talking Downtown Duluth Safety

DULUTH, Minn. – Public safety and outreach services look to find middle ground solutions to Downtown Duluth problems. City officials met to discuss the multi-faceted task of managing Duluth’s Downtown. From public safety leaders to representatives from various outreach services, much of the discussions centered around aiding the homeless population by finding a balance between enforcing laws and providing resources….

Minnesota Political Round-Up

Tonight, a Minnesota Supreme Court order canceling the Jan 28th special election

DULUTH, Minn. – As the sun sets on week one of the 2025 Minnesota Legislature, a partisan conflict is leading the House further into uncharted waters. Friday afternoon, the Minnesota Supreme Court released an order canceling the January 28, 2025, special election for District 40B. The vacancy was created when the winning candidate, DFLer Curtis Johnson, was ruled ineligible for…

Superior Police Find Shooting Victim at Hospital

The victim suffered a non-life-threatening wound to his arm

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Superior Police say a man is in custody for shooting that left another man with non-life-threatening injuries. Police responded to the 3800 block of Tower Avenue around 10:00 pm Thursday evening for reports of a disturbance. Those at the scene told officers they heard a disturbance before a single gunshot. While investigating the scene, officers learned that…

State Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Special Election Lawsuit

STATE CAPITOL – The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide whether Governor Tim Walz acted in accordance with state statute when he called for a special election to fill the vacancy in District 40B. State Supreme Court Justices were full of questions for both the GOP attorneys for the Minnesota Voters Alliance and attorneys representing Governor Tim Walz and Secretary of…

Local Unions back Strikers from Deer River Essentia Facility

DULUTH, Minn. — Union workers from Essentia’s facility in Deer River, picketed in Duluth on Wednesday. The workers are apart of the Service Employees International Union, but were joined today by local chapters of ASFME and the United Steel Workers. The various unions showed their support by braving the cold in front of Essentia’s 2nd Street facility. The Deer River…

Hillside Stabbing Suspect Charged

DULUTH, Minn. – A man faces 2nd Degree Assault charges, for a seemingly unprovoked stabbing in a Hillside neighborhood apartment last week, according to court documents. 24-year-old Lewis Barney Jr. is charged with 2nd Degree Assault with a deadly weapon after police say he stabbed a sleeping man. Police were called to 115 E 3rd St Apartments around 12:00 pm…

Man Charged for 778 grams of Cocaine, was out on Bond in Separate Drug Case

A LSVOTF search warrant seized 778 grams, and arrested a 24-year-old

DULUTH, Minn. – A man who was out on bond for allegedly possessing 730 grams of cocaine back in June, was arrested again last Tuesday for another substantial drug charge. The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force (LSVOTF) seized 778 grams of cocaine when executing a search warrant at 2325 West 7th St in Duluth on Tuesday. The search and…

DFL Reps Sworn in Early, Threaten to Withhold Quorum

Another twist in the road to the 2025 Legislative Session

DFL State Representatives early swearing-in ceremony at the Minnesota History Center, on January 12, 2025, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (DFL House Caucus). DFL Representatives are sworn in early, as they plan not to show up to the Capitol until they secure a power sharing agreement with House Republicans. With control over the Minnesota House of Representatives still uncertain, and negotiations…

Duluth Hillside Stabbing Suspect In Custody, Charges Pending

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police say a man is in custody with charges pending for 1st Degree Assault, after a stabbing today in Duluth’s Hillside neighborhood. A 24-year-old was booked into the St. Louis County Jail today, pending charges for 1st Degree Assault, according to a statement by the Duluth Police Department. Officers responded to 100 block of East 3rd…

Study on ATV Tourism Revenue

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA — ATV Riders are bringing in the big bucks to Northeastern Minnesota according to a University of Minnesota study. In collaboration with the Northeastern ATV Joint Powers Board, researchers from the University of Minnesota has been collecting data on trail traffic through surveys and tracking where riders spend their money. The study found that in 2023, Riders spent…

Manhunt for Triple Murder Suspect Grows in Wisconsin

The Juneau County Sheriff's Office "believe that Virgil may be out of the area."

NEW LISBON, Wisc. – The FBI and US Marshals have joined the manhunt for a triple murder suspect considered armed and dangerous in Wisconsin. The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office says it has conducted extensive ground searches and utilized drones in the search for 47-year-old Virgil Thew. Thew is wanted on three counts of First-Degree Intentional Homicide, after three bodies were…

Carlton Co. Inmate Charged with Attempted Murder of Guard

CARLTON, Minn. – A Carlton County inmate has been charged with attempted murder after he attacked a corrections officer, according to court documents. Matthew William Johnson, 27, is facing charges, including attempted murder, after authorities say he attacked a corrections officer at the Carlton County Jail on December 30. According to court documents, an officer let Johnson out of a…

Vineyard Church and Vineyard USA Face Civil Suits for Former Youth Pastor’s Abuse

The lawsuits name the church, their parent origination, their former youth pastor Jackson Gatlin, and his parents

DULUTH, Minn. -While the criminal cases against former Duluth Vineyard youth pastor Jackson Gatlin were prevented by a plea deal, new lawsuits aim to discover how sexual abuse within the church went overlooked for so long. On Nov. 6, Jackson Gatlin pled guilty to five counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a child. Gatlin received a 13-year sentence for the…

Warrant Finds Fentanyl at West Duluth Apartment

  DULUTH, Minn. – A man is in custody after a search warrant uncovered 150 grams of fentanyl, and thousands in cash at a West Duluth apartment. Duluth Police say a 54-year-old man was arrested this afternoon when they executed a search warrant alongside the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force. According to a statement by the department, officers executed…

Agencies Respond for Group Fighting at Miller Hill Mall Food Court

No arrests or persons of interest have been reported

DULUTH, Minn. – Multiple agencies responded to the Miller Hill Mall food court Monday afternoon, after calls that a group of juveniles and adults were fighting. In an email, the Duluth Police Department confirmed to FOX21 that around 6:30 pm this evening, they responded to the Miller Hill Mall for reports of “multiple people, both juveniles and adults, fighting in…