Crime

Anthony Weiner Sentenced to 21 Months in Sexting Case

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) arrives at federal court for his sentencing hearing in a sexting scandal, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. (AP) NEW YORK (AP) — Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl in a case that rocked Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the White House in…

Duluth Police Investigating Shooting

Male, 19 Showed Up At Local Hospital With Gun Shot Wound

According to police, last night at 10:17 pm Duluth police responded to a local hospital on the report that a male had come in to be treated for a gunshot wound to the hand and leg. Police say the 19 year old victim had what appears to be a non–life threatening single gunshot wound that went through his hand and…

Home Invasion near Backus, Suspect Remains At-Large

Home invasion suspect sketch (Pine County Sheriff’s Office) UPDATE 9-22: An investigation has been underway in a home invasion, according to Cass Co. Sheriff Tom Burch. The sheriff reports that several leads have been followed, but nothing substantial has led to making an identification of the suspect. Authorities have released a sketch of the suspect with the same description originally…

Criminal Unties Vista Boats; 1 Boat Nearly Collides With Freighter

Surveillance Video Shows Suspect In Action

DULUTH, Minn. – Video from DuluthHarborCam.com shows the unbelievably close call between an unmanned Vista boat and a 750-foot ship gunning straight ahead into the Duluth harbor after a criminal unleashed that boat and another Vista boat from the dock behind the DECC. “Nightmare, a nightmare situation.  We missed it by about 20 feet,” said Justin Steinbach, owner of the…

Early Morning Shooting at 1200 Block of West Superior Street

No One Was Injured

DULUTH, Minn.-A shooting on the 1200 block of West Superior at midnight Thursday, has left no one injured. Police responded to the scene where several shots were heard. One man was taken into custody and could be facing multiple charges including second-degree assault, reckless discharge of a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, along with fourth-degree assault….

Reports of Shots Fired Near East Seventh Street

No One Injured

DULUTH, Minn.-Police responded to a report of multiple shots being fired at the 300 block of East Seventh Street at 3 a.m. today. No injuries are being reported. Police found four shell casings in the backyard where the shots were heard coming from. A vehicle that appeared to be suspicious, was pulled over near the scene, but no arrests were…

Conference Aims to Educate Seniors About Scams Online and Over the Phone

DULUTH, Minn. — They’re more dangerous than telemarketers or spam email; they’re scam artists out to steal our identities or our private information. And they’re the topic of an educational conference at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth earlier this morning. The “Scam Jam” is put on by the Better Business Bureau and AARP Minnesota. It’s a free event aimed at…

Little Falls Man Facing Drug Charges After Grand Rapids Bust

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – A Little Falls, Minnesota man has been charged with several drug charges after a drug bust at a Grand Rapids motel, according to Itasca County District Attorney, John J. Muhar. On the morning of Sept. 18, Grand Rapids police received information that 54-year-old Mark Batters was dealing methamphetamine from a room at the Sawmill Inn. Batters…

18 Arrests in Large Scale Drug Bust

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) – Eighteen people have been arrested in the Milwaukee area in a nationwide drug distribution and money-laundering operation. Law enforcement officials say about $1.3 million in cash was seized along with large amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad in Milwaukee says the drug operation stretched from Mexico to California to the Midwest….

Early Morning Vehicle Chase in Virginia

VIRGINIA, Minn. – Around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, Virginia Police attempted to stop a vehicle near the intersection of 6th Avenue North and 9th Street North, but the vehicle fled, heading east then southbound on 2nd Avenue South, according to the Virginia Police Department. The suspect was traveling 65 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone. When…

Hibbing Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Sale of Meth

Anthony Kozar (Minnesota Dept. of Corrections) HIBBING, Minn. – A Hibbing man was sentenced today in St. Louis County Court. Anthony Kozar, 28, was sentenced to 122 months in prison for 1st Degree Aggravated Sale of Methamphetamine. Kozar was arrested by the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force in March of 2017 with a large quantity of meth…

State, Federal Authorities Proposing New Rules on Equifax

(AP) NEW YORK (AP) — State and federal authorities are proposing tougher regulations against Equifax and the entire credit monitoring industry after the company announced that personal information like Social Security numbers of about 143 million Americans was exposed. This is on top of the lawsuits already filed against Equifax by state attorneys general, and a multitude of lawsuits filed…

Leif Erikson Monument Vandalized

No Suspects in Custody

DULUTH, Minn. – A monument to Leif Erikson was vandalized with spray paint in the park named after him. Underneath Erikson’s name, it says “Discoverer of America.” A suspect spray painted over that in black, but that has since been cleaned off. Police do not have any suspects in custody at this point. Categories: Crime, News, News – Latest News…

Over $600,000 Coming to Northland to Fight Opioid Addiction

One Area of Concern is Over-Prescription of Opiates

DULUTH, Minn.-Minnesota is getting $6 million in funding to help battle opioid addiction. About 10 percent of that money will be going to St. Louis County. FOX 21 spoke with Senator Amy Klobuchar, Monday, about the addiction issues Minnesota faces. She said there has been a rapid rise in overdose deaths over the last few years, and she believes some…

Police: Wisconsin Man Caused Home Blast to Mask Wife Killing

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Police have arrested a Wisconsin man suspected of killing his wife and blowing up their home to try to cover up the crime. Authorities arrested 59-year-old Steven Pirus of Madison Saturday night. He is jailed on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, arson, and recklessly endangering safety. Pirus is accused of fatally shooting 50-year-old Lee Anne Pirus….

2 Students Arrested for Threats Against Ashland School District

BOTH ARE FACING TERRORISTIC THREAT CHARGES

ASHLAND, Wis. – Ashland School District has received two separate threats, according to the Ashland Police Department. According to the release, on Sunday, Sept. 17, a concerned citizen said they observed a threat to Ashland High School on a Snapchat account. The Snapchat featured a picture of two boxes of shotgun shells and said, “Don’t come to school Monday.” Police…

More Money Coming to Minnesota to Fight Opioid Addiction

$6 Million Coming to Minnesota

  DULUTH, Minn.-Minnesota got some good news today in its fight against opioid addiction. The state is now due to receive major federal funding to the tune of $6 million to help fight the disease. That money will be dedicated to medication-assisted treatment. In 2016 more than 600 people in that state died from an opioid overdose.   Categories: Crime,…

Attorney: Slender Man Attacker Descended into ‘Madness’

TODD RICHMOND - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anissa Weier passes a note to defense attorney Joseph Smith Jr.. during closing argument sin her case before Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via AP) WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin girl accused of helping her friend stab their classmate nearly to death to please online horror character Slender Man…

Search for Perpetrators of Bomb on London Subway, 29 Wounded

JILL LAWSON - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A police forensic officer stands beside the trail, at left, where an incident happened, that police say they are investigating as a terrorist attack at Parsons Green subway station in London. (AP) LONDON (AP) — A homemade bomb planted in a rush-hour subway car injured 29 people in London on Friday, sparking a huge manhunt for the perpetrators of what…

Enbridge Protestors Arrested In Superior

Blockade Set Up Prevented Construction Workers From Working

SUPERIOR, Wis. Protestors hoping to keep Enbridge workers from getting into their construction site on the line 3 replacement project Thursday morning are now in trouble with the law. In a dramatic scene, several protesters were arrested Thursday in Superior. One has been charged with disorderly conduct during the incident while three others were booked for resisting arrest and trespassing….

Biracial Boy Nearly Hanged by Teens

Photo courtesy Cassandra Merlin CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) – More than 100 people, holding hands and singing “We Shall Overcome,” gathered at a park to offer support to the family of an 8-year-old biracial boy who was nearly hanged by a group of teenagers. The boy’s grandmother said the teens taunted him with racial slurs on Aug. 28 in the mostly white town…

Virginia PD Looking for Public’s Help in Burglary Incident

VIRGINIA, Minn. – The Virginia Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects that were involved in an early morning burglary on Sept. 13. On Wednesday, Sept. 13, around 12:42 a.m., two male suspects entered an occupied residence in the 800 block of 7th Street South by kicking in the door. Suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash,…

Suspects Charged in Shooting of Grand Rapids Officer’s Home, Squad Car

Both Facing Felony Charges

Left to Right, Dominic Carlson and Timothy Hilgedick (Itasca Co. Sheriff’s Office) GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Two men have been charged in Grand Rapids after allegedly firing a weapon at an officer’s house and squad car Sunday evening. Twenty-year-old Timothy Hilgedick of Grand Rapids and 18-year-old Dominic Carlson of Bemidji appeared in Itasca County Court. Both are facing felony second-degree…

Prosecutors to Consider Charges in Australian Woman’s Death

Justine Damond, Fox 9MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The case of a Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed an Australian woman in July has been handed to prosecutors for possible charges. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Tuesday that they have finished their investigation into Officer Mohamed Noor and have turned the case over to prosecutors for review. Noor fatally…

Shots Fired At Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Home, Squad Car

Officer, Family Not Injured

    GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- A Grand Rapids police officer’s house and squad car were shot at Sunday evening. Officer Matt O’Rourke was at his home at 10 p.m. Sunday with his family when the incident happened. The officer heard multiple projectiles strike his squad car parked in his driveway. A vehicle was then seen speeding away from his house….

6 Hurt When Man Drives Car into Crowd in Mankato

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) – Police say six people were hurt when a man deliberately drove his vehicle into a group in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Minnesota. Authorities say the 21-year-old Montgomery, Minnesota man fled the scene in Mankato early Sunday before Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputies arrested him. Police commander Craid Frericks tells The Associated Press…

Flags Lowered at Wayzata Police Station Amid Reports of Officer Dead

FOX 9 WAYZATA, Minn. (AP) – Flags are flying half-staff at a suburban Minneapolis police department amid reports that one officer was struck and killed by a vehicle. The Wayzata Police Department has not officially announced the officer’s death but has called a news conference for 4:30 p.m. Friday. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arrandando asked those attending his swearing-in ceremony Friday…

Authorities Remind Parents to Talk About Internet Safety

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Forensic Technology & Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have teamed up to remind parents to speak to their children about internet safety and cyber bullying, as the new school year gets underway. Authorities are encouraging parents to have a discussion with their kids about the property use of…

Jasmine Block Describes 29-Day Abduction, Escape

PAUL BLUME - FOX 9 KMSP

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (KMSP) – Jasmine Block is barely 15 and one courageous young lady. “I was usually in a closet and I usually stayed quiet because I was scared they might hit me or do something,” said Jasmine. Jasmine was allegedly lured from her Alexandria home August 8 by family acquaintance Thomas Barker. Court documents detail a nightmarish month. The suspects restrained the…

Man Charged for Fatally Stabbing Friend While Visiting St. Cloud

Robin Hanson (Stearns County Jail) ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KMSP) – A 22-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder for stabbing his friend to death while they were visiting St. Cloud, Minnesota from Iowa. Investigators believe the suspect, Robin Hanson of Deloit, Iowa, and Andre Tirrel, 22, also of Deloit, traveled together from Iowa to stay for the weekend in St. Cloud. On…

Woman Abducted from I-Falls Located Near Bemidji, Suspect Arrested

BELTRAMI COUNTY, Minn. – On Friday, Sept. 1, around 7 p.m., Beltrami County Deputies assisted the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office in investigating an alleged abduction that had occurred earlier in the day in International Falls, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities received information that a male subject, 31, of Blackduck, had taken his ex-girlfriend against her will, and…

One Injured After Stabbing in Duluth

One Man Arrested on Second-Degree Assault Charges

DULUTH, Minn.-An early morning stabbing has left one 20-year-old Duluth man with non-life threatening injuries. Police responded to the 6400 Block of Petre Street at 12:30 a.m. today after hearing reports of the incident. A 20-year-old man was arrested at the scene for second-degree assault for his role in the alleged crime. Both men had conflicting stories about what had…

Duluth Business, Owners Charged with Multiple Tax Crimes

DULUTH, Minn. – The owners of a popular Duluth restaurant are now facing the Minnesota Department of Revenue after allegedly filing false tax returns and failing to pay sales tax, according to the Department. The owners of Osaka Sushi & Hibachi allegedly used a computer program to remove items from sales receipts in order to under-report monthly sales. The Department of…

Medical Examiner: Greywind’s Death Due to Homicidal Violence

FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Police have announced the preliminary autopsy results of Savanna Greywind who was found in the Red River on Sunday, Aug. 27, after she was reported missing on Saturday, Aug. 19. According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner, the preliminary cause of Greywind’s death was due to homicidal violence. Specific were unable to be released, including how…

Protesters Trespass, Vandalize Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Site in Superior

Six people were arrested Tuesday at the site

SUPERIOR, Wis. – More protests occurred today just outside Superior at the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Reconstruction Project. The Douglas County Sheriff says six people were arrested, but no one was violent. Authorities did say one person chained themselves to some machinery at the scene. This is the third incident in the last few weeks at the site. Enbridge says…

2 Facing Murder, Kidnapping Charges in Savanna Greywind Case

FARGO, N.D. – Two individuals believed to be involved in the death of Savanna Greywind have been charged in Cass County District Court, according to Cass County State’s Attorney Birch Burdick. Brooke Lynn Crews, 38, and William Henry Hoehn, 32 were each charged with Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping on Thursday, Aug. 24, after they were found with Greywind’s newborn child…

Medical Examiner: Hopkins Murder Victim Died of ‘Multiple Chop Wounds’

FOX 9 - KMSP

(FOX 9 KMSP) HOPKINS, Minn. (KMSP) – The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has determined the 67-year-old man allegedly killed by his neighbor in Hopkins, Minnesota home last week died of multiple chop wounds. John Gallagher Jr. was found dead at his home on the 200 block of 10th Avenue North in Hopkins at approximately 3:40 a.m. last Friday. Police arrested Gallagher’s former next-door…

Fargo Police: Body of Missing Woman Found in River

Women's Baby Previously Found Alive

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Authorities in Fargo, North Dakota, say they’ve found the body of a missing woman, who was eight months pregnant when she disappeared. Fargo Police Chief David Todd told a news conference the body of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind was found in a river Sunday evening. Todd says the body, which was wrapped in plastic, was first spotted…

Life Without Parole for Joseph Thoresen

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Today, Aug. 25, 2017, Joseph Christen Thoresen appeared in Itasca County District Court where a jury found him guilty of the murder of David Haiman. Kayleene Greniger Thoresen was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole for the assault and murder of Haiman in June of 2016. Thoresen and his then girlfriend Kayleene Greniger assaulted…

Pregnant Fargo Woman Disappears, Infant Found

She was reported missing Saturday, Aug. 19

UPDATE 8/28: The body of Savanna Greywind was discovered on Sunday, Aug. 27 in the Red River near Harwood, N.D. More: http://www.fox21online.com/2017/08/28/fargo-police-body-missing-woman-found-river/ FARGO, N.D. – Fargo police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old pregnant Fargo woman, who was last seen around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 in a neighbor’s apartment in the 2800 block of 9th Street North, according…

Grand Rapids Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft by Check

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – A Grand Rapids woman pled guilty to two counts of felony Theft by Check in Itasca County District Court on Aug. 18, according to Itasca County Attorney John J. Muhar. Debra Lynn Solem, 53, was the office manager at Undem Law Office, where she was connected to the writing of unauthorized checks. According to Muhar, Solem…

Drug Bust in the 1500 Block of East 1st Street in Duluth

  DULUTH, Minn. – A search warrant was executed on Aug. 15, at an apartment in the 1500 block of East 1st Street, as a result of an investigation into the suspected sale of controlled substances by the Duluth Police Department and Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. During the search, investigators recovered approximately 29.5 grams of heroin…

2 Charged After Drug Bust in 100 Block of East 3rd Street in Duluth

Derrick Ewing (Left), Jomell Parlsey (Right) DULUTH, Minn. – Investigators from the Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant on Aug. 17, in the 100 block of East 3rd Street in Duluth. The search warrant was part of an investigation into the suspected sale of controlled substances. During the search,…

Active Shooter Response Exercise Held in Superior

Douglas County Sheriff's Department Partnered with Local Fire Departments to Complete Training

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Douglas County first responders held a training exercise Tuesday in Superior. The training is designed to help prepare agencies if there was ever an active shooter at a school. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department teamed up with the Town of Superior and the Town of Oakland fire departments for an active shooter training exercise at Four Corners…

Biological Mother Charged with Missing Minnesota Teen’s Murder

FOX 9 - KMSP

Savannah Leckie OZARK COUNTY, Mo. (KMSP) – The biological mother of missing Minnesota girl Savannah Leckie has been charged with murder after the 16-year-old’s burned bones were found on a property in rural Longrun, Missouri, the Ozark County Sheriff confirmed to Fox 9. Sheriff Darrin Reed said Monday that dental records helped confirm the recovered remains belong to Savannah Leckie. “From information I…