Crime

Cellphones, Facebook Chats & A Tip: How deputies found the escaped NERCC prisoner

Michael Todd Hart DULUTH, Min. – Court documents are showing how deputies say they tracked down Michael Hart after he escaped from from Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC) and stayed on the run for about 2-weeks. The information was found in the charging documents for Devone Shackelton, Michael Hart’s girlfriend. Shackelton was charged with one count of Felony Aiding an…

Investigator suing the City of Superior resigns

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Mikayla LeRette, the Investigator suing the city of Superior, has resigned. She resigned in good standing about the same time both LeRette’s legal team and the City of Superior’s legal team agreed to some confidentiality terms in her federal lawsuit. On October 2, 2025 an agreement was made to keep some parts of evidence in the lawsuit…

Crews to teardown the remainder of home that exploded in Hibbing

Crews beginning to tear down remainder of house that exploded in Hibbing (10/13/25) UPDATE: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety tells FOX21 the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the explosion. HIBBING, Min. – Crews are beginning to teardown the remainder of home a that exploded in Hibbing the evening of October 12, 2025. The house exploded in Hibbing around…

Threat against Proctor school was made by students but not credible

Proctor High School UPDATE: The Proctor Police Department tells FOX21 the threat was made via a phone call. PROCTOR, Min. – In the late morning of October 13, 2025 the Proctor School District Superintendent said a recent threat against the school was not credible. In a statement Superintendent of Schools Tim Rohweder said, “The Proctor Police Department was made aware of…

Threat To Proctor Middle And High Schools; Increased Patrols This Week

PROCTOR, Minn. — The Proctor  School District and the Proctor Police Department are investigating a threat to the middle and high schools, which officials do not believe is credible. Supt. Tim Rohweder sent a lengthy email to families and staff Sunday about the threat, which referenced Oct. 13. Rohweder acknowledged how these situations can be “unsettling,” but he said it…

Woman Charged in Fatal 2023 Accident

DULUTH, Minn. — 31-year-old Kayla Polaski has been charged after a fatal car accident in 2023. Polaski was driving with her mother when she drifted across the center line and struck another vehicle. Polaski’s mother was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to the hospital for their injuries. A blood test revealed Polaski had amphetamines and…

Authorities charge man with sparking deadly January wildfire that leveled LA neighborhoods

FILE – An aerial view shows the devastation left by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file) LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 29-year-old man charged with sparking the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Year’s Day that…

Hidden Camera Found In Bathroom At Duluth Senior Living Facility

Bathroom where the camera was found DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has learned a small camera was recently discovered in a bathroom at Viewcrest Health Center. A Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) found the small pen-style camera on Friday, Oct. 3, and called the Duluth Police Department. Sources tell FOX 21 the device was taped under the lip of a wooden…

Man that escaped from Northeast Regional Corrections Center captured

Michael Todd Hart DULUTH, Min. – Michael Todd Hart, the man who escaped from Northeast Regional Corrections Center (NERCC), has been captured. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reports that around mid day on October 7, 2025 law enforcement captured Hart at a Cohasset home. Hart was arrested after his escape from NERCC on September 23, 2025. Deputies says Hart…

Man Arrested After West Skyline Hit-And-Run

DULUTH, Minn. — A man is now under arrest after a hit-and-run incident on West Skyline Parkway last week. The 68-year-old suspect is being held on multiple pending charges, including criminal vehicular operation and bodily harm. The incident happened during the daylight hours of Sept. 23 on the 3800 block of West Skyline. Two pedestrians were struck by the vehicle….

Duluth Police: Fight Ends With Man Shot By ‘Fearful’ Woman

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating a shooting in the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The call for help came in around 4 a.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of West 7th Street. Police attend to man shot in the leg Sunday morning “Initial information is a physical alteration occurred between a 39-year-old female and a 38-year-old male inside a…

Man found on Moccasin Mike Road in Superior identified

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Police Department has identified the person found deceased in the area of Moccasin Mike Road and Wisconsin Point Road on September 24, 2025. He was identified as Superior resident, 53-year-old Tracy Alan Woodhull. The Superior Police Department is still investigate this incident. On September 24, 2025, at approximately 1:39am officer got the report of a man…

Superior man charged with seven counts of child porn after social media tips

Brayden Jacob James Bunt SUPERIOR, Wis. – The uploading of possible child pornography to social media led to the arrest of a Superior man. Superior Police Department investigative documents show three “CyberTips” were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Kik messaging service detected two files that may contain child pornography. They were able to connect the…

Duluth ski coach sentenced for creating child pornography of the kids he coached

John Degelau DULUTH, Minn. & MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – John David Degelau, 28, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was found guilty on federal charges of Possession of Child Pornography. Degelau, a former youth ski coach, created child pornography by imposing the faces of children he coached onto the bodies of…

Stabbing at a Sunday wedding

Nathan John Polzin ANGORA TOWNSHIP, Min. – A man is accused of getting into a fight at a wedding and stabbing an attendee. Court documents allege Nathan John Polzin got into a disagreement at wedding in Angora Township the evening of September 21, 2025. A witness told deputies Polzin pulled a knife on the victim and began fighting. The witness…

Minnesota Board of Pardons commutes sentence from 1998 Aitkin County murder

SAINT PAUL, Min. – Minnesota Board of Pardons voted to commute the sentence of Brian Pippitt, who spent over two decades in prison following a conviction of first-degree murder in 2001. The Board voted to commute Pippitt’s sentence based on good behavior in prison and the length of time Pippitt served in prison compared to his codefendants. In 2024 there…

Ex-Lawmaker Nicole Mitchell sentenced for burglary

Nicole Mitchell DULUTH, Min. & DETROIT LAKES, Min. – Former Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell has been sentenced to 5-years probation, plus 180-days in jail with work release. She was convicted of burglary for breaking into her estranged stepmother’s house. Mitchell said during her sentencing, “Your Honor, I, I deserve to be here today. The things said and the harm I…

Man Suffers Life-Altering Injuries After Rock Attack Near Canal Park; Teen Charged

DULUTH, Minn.– Milton Michael Myschack, 61, of Duluth was randomly attacked with a large rock while walking under an overpass bordering Canal Park, according to his brother, Philip Myschack. The entire altercation was recorded on a cell phone where you can see a group of teens cornering Myschack before being knocked to the ground with the rock. “I really believe…

Charges: Duluth Man Filmed Under Skirts At Mariucci Arena Graduations, 144 victims

Benjamin Goldsmith of Duluth MINNEAPOLIS. Minn. (FOX 9) — A Duluth man is accused of taking inappropriate images of more than 100 female students at high school graduation ceremonies at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Benjamin Thomas Goldsmith, 32, of Duluth is accused of getting closely behind girls while taking pictures and videos under their skirts, according to charges. 144 victims…

Duluth’s Japanese Garden Lantern Vandalized, Yet Hope Shines On

DULUTH, Minn.– There is disappointment after vandals targeted one of Duluth’s pristine gardens that represents Duluth’s sister city in Japan. Over the weekend, the Japanese Peace Bell Garden’s Kotoji lantern — a symbolism of unity between people, cultures and views — was destroyed. Destroyed Kotoji lantern “So, all pieces were put apart. It’s a cemented granite piece put apart and…

Democrat wins Minnesota House special election to replace assassinated leader

XP Lee MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota House will soon return to full strength under an unusual power-sharing agreement that forces both parties to work together, following a special election to fill the seat left vacant when the chamber’s top Democrat was assassinated. Democrat Xp Lee won Tuesday’s special election with 61% of the vote, according to unofficial results. After…

12 Injured In Minneapolis Shootings At Homeless Camp, Near Transit Station

Courtesy: FOX 9 MINNEAPOLIS (AP/FOX9) — Seven people have been wounded, including four with critical injuries, in a shooting at a homeless camp on private property in Minneapolis, police said. The shooting happened just hours after and blocks away from another shooting that left five injured near a transit station as city officials acknowledge a spate of recent violent crime…

Georgia Teen Wanted For Homicide, Kidnapping Arrested In Duluth

Monday: 1200 block of East 4th Street DULUTH, Minn. – A 16-year-old boy wanted in the state of Georgia for homicide, armed robbery and kidnapping, among other charges, was arrested by Duluth police Monday while officers were responding to a “possible burglary in progress,” according to a news release Tuesday. The possibly burglary call came in around 2:40 p.m. Monday…

2 Arrested After Home Burglary In Fredenberg Township

FREDENBERG TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Burglary suspects are under arrest after a home in Fredenberg Township was ransacked over the weekend and firearms were stolen. The discovery happened Saturday in the 6000 block of Olson Drive. The property owner found the doors to the home and barn were kicked in. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said there was significant damage…

Student Dies After Shooting 2 Peers, Himself At Colorado High School: Officials

Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A student shot two of his peers Wednesday at a suburban Denver high school before shooting himself and later dying, authorities said. The handgun shooting was reported around 12:30 p.m. at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, about 30 miles west of Denver in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Shots were fired both inside and outside…

Superior Police: Armed Intruder Found By Homeowner

As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect was on the run.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — An armed intruder in Superior caused an hours-long standoff at a home Tuesday evening, according to police. Authorities said a man came home to find another man armed with a gun inside his home.  The homeowner fled the house safely, but the homeowner did not know if the suspect fled the home, too. The scene unfolded in…

Police Investigate Robbery, Assault In Canal Park

DULUTH, Minn. — A case of robbery and assault in Duluth’s Canal Park is being investigated by the Duluth Police Department. After FOX 21 received a news tip about this crime, we reached out to police. A public information officer said the crime happened behind Caribou Coffee around 8:30 p.m. Monday. A 29-year-old male victim suffered minor injuries, according the…

UMD Releases Statement Amid Possible Strike By Teamsters 320

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD responded Sunday evening to a possible strike by its service workers with Teamsters Local 320, which involves those in custodial, maintenance and food service. This update comes after the union voted down the university’s “last, best and final offer” on Friday. “While we respect our employees’ rights to collective bargaining, our priority remains ensuring that vital…

Victim Speaks Out After Enduring Random Stabbing Attack

DULUTH, Minn.– Tasha Hoskins of Duluth says, she was casually strolling the streets between Central and Grand Avenue on the night of September 1st. When out of nowhere, she was randomly attacked. She claims she was approached by 37-year-old Tasha Carlson of Duluth. The pair had no prior connections before the incident. “She drops the bike right by the trash…

Man cited for starting Camp House Fire

Camp House Fire (May 15, 2025) DULUTH, Min. – A Duluth man has been cited in connection with the Camp House Fire. It is believed the fire started from an unattended campfire. The fire started May 11, 2025, near Brimson. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources tells FOX21, “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in coordination with the St….

Charges: Woman Randomly Stabbed In Duluth’s ‘Memorial Park’ Near School

DULUTH, Minn.– A Duluth woman is accused of randomly stabbing another woman in a city-owned park next to Laura MacArthur Elementary School, according to court documents. Tasha Lucille Carlson, 37, of Duluth, is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Court documents said the stabbing happened around 10 p.m. on Sept. 1 in Memorial Park, which is located at…

Superior Woman Accused Of Stabbing Man Multiple Times

Dana Wood SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Police Department on Thursday night said they are investigating a stabbing that happened on Saturday, Aug. 30. Dana Wood, 35, of Superior is accused of stabbing a 38-year-old Michigan man multiple times, according to the Superior Police Department. The stabbing was reported around 9:15 p.m. in the 1600 block of Oakes Avenue. The…

Gov. Walz To Call Special Session On Gun Laws After Minneapolis School Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz plans to call a special legislative session to consider tougher gun laws following a shooting last week at a Catholic school in Minneapolis that left two children dead and 21 people injured. The Democrat told reporters Tuesday, after welcoming children back to a public school in the Minneapolis suburb of Eagan, that he’ll…

Latest: Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting Kills 2 Kids, Injures 17 Others

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooter opened fire with a rifle Wednesday through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis and struck some of the nearly 200 children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.” Armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol,…

President orders flags to be flown at half staff honoring victims of Annunciation Catholic School shooting

Flag lowered to half staff at White House after Annunciation School Shooting WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has ordered flag to be flown at half staff due to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. His proclamation reads: As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on August 27, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by…

Stella Maris Academy releases statement following Annunciation Catholic School shooting

Stella Maris Academy Seal DULUTH, Min. – The Cathodic School in Duluth, Stella Maris Academy, released a statement following the deadly shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Our hearts are broken as we hold our brothers and sisters at Annunciation Catholic School and Parish in Minneapolis close in prayer after today’s tragic events. Catholic schools are so much…

Names released of people killed in Carlton County ATV Crash

CARLTON COUNTY, Min. –  The names of the two people killed in an ATV crash in Carlton County over the weekend have been released. Lisa Jo Westendorf, 48, of Cloquet and Glen Alan Burdick, 59, of Homestead, Iowa both passed away. The initial investigation says the two of them got separated from the group of ATV’ers. On Saturday August 23, 2025…

Missing man from Gogebic County found dead in Ashland County

ASHLAND, Wis. – The body of a man missing from Gogebic County for about a week was discovered Sunday night in Ashland County. Ashland County Sheriff Brian Zupke reports on Sunday August 24, 2025, at approximately 5:05 P.M., the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office received a request to investigate a vehicle located in the Township of Morse. This vehicle was believed…

AMSOIL reflects on life of former employee allegedly murdered by son

DULUTH, Min. & SUPERIOR, Wis. – People across the Twin Ports are reflecting on the life of MaeDean Davin. She was a long time employee for AMSOIL. Nathan Davin, 46, of Duluth is accused of shooting and killing his mother, MaeDean Davin, 74, of Duluth. AMSOIL released a statement reflecting on MaeDean, “MaeDean was a wonderful person. She managed the…

Convicted sex offender sentenced to 22-years in prison after being given a stay in previous conviction

DULUTH, Min, – “No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at a park.” That is what Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in announcing the sentencing for Dillon Alvan Reyna. Dillon Rayna Reyna was sentenced to 22-years in prison, followed by 15-years of supervised release. He was convicted of “Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.”…

Wanted man likely in greater Superior-area

Robert Ganz-Brown SUPERRIOR, Wis. – On Tuesday afternoon the Bayfield County Sherriff’s Office put out the call for a wanted man Robert Ganz-Brown. Ganz-Brown got away from Bayfield County authorities during an attempted traffic stop around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. He fled from Bayfield County Sherriff’s  Deputies in a stolen mini van. Douglas County Sheriff Matt Izzard…

Duluth Man Charged In Mother’s Murder; Summit School Remembers Victim

DULUTH, Minn. — A second-degree murder charge was filed Tuesday in St. Louis County Court against Nathan Davin, 46, of Duluth. Court documents accuse Davin of shooting his mother, MaeDean Davin, 74, of Duluth in the face at close range while she sat in her recliner. Nathan Davin, 46 Officers on scene described her injury as a “devastating gunshot wound.”…

Wanted In NW Wisconsin: Robert Ganz-Brown

BAYFIELD COUNTY, Wis. –  The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office, along with the assistance of surrounding agencies, are searching for a runaway suspect with multiple arrest warrants in Wisconsin. Robert Ganz-Brown got away from Bayfield authorities during an attempted traffic stop around 4 a.m. Tuesday. Spike strips were deployed, which disabled the van Ganz-Brown was driving, but he fled the scene,…

Sheriff’s Office Investigating 3 Vehicle Thefts At Grand Marais Auto Shop

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. – Three vehicles were recently stolen from a repair business in Grand Marais, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle thefts happened at Tire & Auto Lodge during the early morning hours of Aug. 14. Two vehicles were eventually recovered after the suspects left them abandoned. On Aug. 18, the third stolen vehicle, a 2014…