Crime

Former Timberwolves player Chauncey Billups charged in sports betting and Mafia-backed poker schemes

Chauncey Billups NEW YORK (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people accused of participating in schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, authorities said. Rozier is accused in participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using…

Man that escaped from NERCC has initial appearance in court

Michael Todd Hart GRAND RAPIDS, Min. – Michael Todd Hart made his initial appearance in Itasca County Court on charges after his alleged escaped from Northeast Regional Corrections Center. His initial appearance was on October 22, 2025. He is still remanded in custody. All the charges he’s facing in Itasca County are from his actions following the alleged escape. In…

Northland Country Club Asks For Public’s Help After Vandals Strike Twice

DULUTH, Minn. — Vandals have struck the Northland Country Club two times in one week. The people, who appear on surveillance video to be in their younger years, trespassed the property during the early morning hours of Oct. 16 and 18. Management says carts and green were damaged, doors were kicked in, locks were cut, and storage areas were broken…

Man charged with stalking, accused of sending Wisconsin’s chief justice intimidating emails

Jill Karofsky MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a Wisconsin man with stalking after he allegedly sent liberal state Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky a series of intimidating emails. Ryan Thornton, 37, of Racine was charged Monday with one felony count of stalking. He faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted. His attorney, listed in court…

Business dealings listed within Hog Wild BBQ and Smokehouse Restaurant arson case

Steven W Kastern Covering Surveillance Camera SUPERIOR, Wis. & SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – In the indictment of Steven and Kimberly Kastern for the fire at Hog Wild BBQ and Smokehouse Restaurant, there were a number of business dealings mentioned.  The was a fire at the establishment on June 10, 2025. The couple were arrested on October 17, 2025 and were…

Owner of Hog Wild BBQ covered surveillance camera prior to fire at the business: Indictment

  SUPERIOR, Wis. & SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – Surveillance video allegedly shows Steven W. Kastern taking steps to cover-up the alleged arson of the Hog Wild BBQ and Smokehouse Restaurant on June 10, 2025. A DVR system in the office stored surveillance recordings from, “approximately 14 cameras throughout the establishment” was key in the indictment. The indictment claims, “DVR footage showed…

Sheriff: Arson Investigation at Hog Wild BBQ in Solon Springs Leads to Arrest of Owners

SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. — An arson investigation is underway after a June fire at Hog Wild BBQ & Smokehouse in Solon Springs.  And the suspects are the owners. On Friday, Douglas County Sheriff Matt Izzard told FOX 21 that Steven and Kimberly Kastern, the owners of How Wild, were arrested for the fire at their establishment.  Also on Friday, Dist….

Pumpkin Train Forced to Strike Vehicle at Duluth Crossing

DULUTH, Minn. — The North Shore Scenic Railroad’s (NSSR) last Pumpkin Train of the season got an unexpected delay Sunday after a driver ignored safety signals and ultimately got clipped by the train in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood, according to train officials. “Always assume that there is a train coming. Stop fully. Don’t go to a soft stop, stop fully. Look…

Trump says he has commuted sentence of former US Rep. George Santos in federal fraud case

George Santos WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he had commuted the sentence of former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who is serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of…

Man accused of assaulting Essentia nurses has history of nurse assault

Joseph Minowanigogezhig Legarde DULUTH, Min. – The man accused of assaulting two nurses at Essentia’s St. Mary’s Emergency Department had previously been convicted of assaulting Emergency Department staff. The recent assault allegedly happened at approximately 3a.m on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Duluth Police tell FOX21 he is accused of assaulting two female nurses. In November of 2017, Legarde was arrested…

New information on assault in Essentia Emergency Department

Joseph Minowanigogezhig Legarde DULUTH, Min. – Joseph Minowanigogezhig Legarde has officially been charged with two counts of assault from his alleged action in the Essentia St. Mary’s Emergency Department.  It happened on October 16, 2025. According to charging documents Legarde was in a emergency room and activated his call light. When a nurse responded to the call light, Legarde allegedly…

New District Court Judge named for Duluth

Nathan Lacoursiere DULUTH, Min. – Governor Tim Walz has announced the appointment of Nathan LaCoursiere as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District. LaCoursiere will replace the Honorable Eric L. Hylden and will be chambered in Duluth in St. Louis County. In making the announcement Gov. Walz said, “Nathan LaCoursiere will be a remarkable judge… What makes him so…

Lake Nebagamon man charged with possession of child pornography

Jackson Dallas Rabold SUPERIOR, Wis. – A Lake Nebagamon man is facing five counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 19-year-old Jackson Dallas Rabold. The charging documents say investigators were initially tipped off to Rebold when Google detected, “258 files of suspected child pornography, stored on the google photos infrastructure.”  The indictment continues to…

Man taunts Troopers after 100-mile-per-hour chase, later leaving note calling self ‘Undefeated driver #1’

Matthew Dean Irgang NEAR CHISHOLM, Min. – Charging documents say a man drove from Minnesota Highway Patrol Trooper at more than 100-miles per hour leading them on a chase, and later left a note taunting them. The report alleges a Trooper clocked Matthew Irgang, 43, Eveleth driving 101-miles per hour the evening of December 8, 2024. He was allegedly driving…

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

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 6:30 p.m. Crews beginning to tear down remainder of house that exploded in…

Threat against Proctor school was made by students but not credible

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. Proctor High School 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…