Crime

Two Georgia Prison Guards Shot and Killed by Inmates; Suspects on the Run

Georgia Department of Corrections tweeted a photo of the two inmates, Donnie Russell Rowe, 43, and Ricky Dubose, 24, who are being sought by law enforcement after two prison guards were killed in Putnam County on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. (Georgia Department of Corrections ) ATLANTA, Ga. (FOX NEWS) – Two Georgia prison guards were killed by two inmates Tuesday…

Deliberations Continue in Trial of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

Drawing by Cedric Hohnstadt ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – A verdict has not yet been reached in the trial of St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez. Deliberations began Monday afternoon, but jurors went home at 4:30 without a verdict. They resumed deliberations on Tuesday morning. Upon request, both the dashcam video and Diamond Reynolds’ Facebook Live broadcast were replayed for the jury….

Remembering Those Lost In The Largest Mass Shooting On U.S. Soil

49 Shot Dead At Pulse Night Club Are Remembered In Duluth

Duluth, Minn. Tonight local groups representing the LGBTQ community came together to remember all 49 of the victims shot and killed in Orlando. Dozens showed up to pay their respects at the Powless Cultural Center. Tonight “remembering pulse– one year later” was a commemorative event aiming to honor those 49 victims and all the others that were wounded or affected…

Arson Suspected in Lester Park Playground Fire

DULUTH, Minn.-Part of the Lester Park Elementary playground was burned yesterday and the fire department believes it’s arson. Firefighters responded at about 8 p.m. to put out the blaze. In 2011, a fire also destroyed much of the playground’s jungle gym which cost $141,000. Authorities have identified a juvenile who admitted to setting a fire to the equipment. The individual…

Walnut Grove, Minn. Police Chief Arrested in Prostitution Sting

FOX 9 - KMSP

Michael Zeug WALNUT GROVE, Minn. (KMSP) – A small town Minnesota police chief was busted in a multi-agency covert operation targeting the demand for underage sex trafficking. The sting took place last Friday, June 9 in Redwood Falls. Michael Robert Zeug, 45, is charged with felony prostitution, attempting to hire a minor under 18. According to the criminal complaint, Zeug…

Ex-Worker Accused of Rigging Lottery Pleads Guilty to Theft

Eddie Tipton was security director for the Multi-State Lottery Association

Eddie Tipton, Sept. 2015 (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A former lottery computer worker at the center of a multi-state scandal has pleaded guilty in Wisconsin. The plea is Eddie Tipton’s first admission of guilt since his arrest in 2015. Prosecutors in Madison charged Eddie Tipton, who now resides in Texas, with racketeering, theft, and computer crime in…

Wisconsin Struggles to Find New Homes for Sex Offenders

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – An Associated Press review of state data reveals that 36 violent sex offenders who have completed treatment are still waiting in prison for Wisconsin officials to find them somewhere to live. Wisconsin policymakers, like those in many states, have struggled for years to find homes for sex offenders in the face of opposition form local communities…

Jury Begins Deliberations in Trial of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

Drawing by Cedric Hohnstadt ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Monday in the trial of St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Yanez is on trial for manslaughter for the July 6, 2016 shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. The shooting garnered national attention when Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, streamed the…

Motorcyclist Killed Near Bayfield

Driver Of Vehicle Under The Influence Of Alcohol

BAYFIELD, Wis. – A 64-year-old motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries after an accident on WIS 13 near Bayfield, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The incident happened on Saturday, June 10 just after 7 p.m. on WIS 13 at Superior Avenue in Bayfield County. A Volkswagon Jetta was traveling northbound on WIS 13, and attempted to make a left-hand turn…

AMBER Alert Issued in Wisconsin

Authorities Looking for 8 Year Old Jaiden Hunt

UPDATE: Jaiden was found safe! (KQDS FOX 21) – An AMBER Alert was issued Saturday afternoon in Wisconsin, looking for a missing 8 year old boy. Jaiden Hunt was last seen in Knowlton with his father, Jamie Hunt.   Jaiden is 4 feet talL, weighs 45 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.  He was wearing a white tank top and…

4th Annual Operation K-9

Area Agencies Show Off Dogs Capabilities

Superior, Wis. More than a dozen Northland K-9 teams demonstrated their skills in front of a massive crowd today at AMSOIL Center in Superior. “Its really cool to be here to show off the dogs skills. What they can actually do and allow the public to have this close interaction with these dogs,” Sgt. Brandon Silgjord of St. Louis County…

New Trial Wanted in ‘Making a Murderer’ case

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) – A lawyer is asking for a new trial for a Wisconsin man convicted in a case profiled in the “Making a Murderer” Netflix series. Attorney Kathleen Zellner filed a 1,272-page document Wednesday claiming Steven Avery’s conviction was based on planted evidence and false testimony. USA Today Network-Wisconsin reports Zellner contends Avery deserves a new trial “in…

Castile Case Coming to Close

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Prosecutors may wrap up their case Thursday against a Minnesota police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of a black motorist. Officer Jeronimo Yanez is accused in the July death of 32-year-old Philando Castile, an elementary school cafeteria worker, during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb. Castile was licensed to carry a handgun and told…

Woman Stabbed In Hibbing After ‘Domestic Dispute’

UPDATE 6/6: Thirty-three-year-old Michael David Johnson, of Hibbing, is facing four charges including Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, First Degree Assault, Fifth Degree Assault, and Michael David Johnson (St. Louis County Jail) Domestic Assault, according to the Hibbing Police Department. According to the criminal complaint, Johnson stabbed the female victim, identified as his wife, in the eye with a…

Hermantown Police Get Active Violence Safety Kits

Department Partnered with Shield616 and Community Members to Buy New Gear

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown Police Officers were presented with new active violence safety kits. The kits will give them rifle-rated protection in dangerous situations. The Police Department partnered with the non-profit Shield616 and received a lot of support and donations from the community to buy the new gear. “Not only do we want to be a blessing to them and…

Jury Seated in Castile Trial

Jury Being Put Together Today

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A jury has been seated for the trial of a Minnesota police officer charged in the shooting death of a black motorist after defense attorneys unsuccessfully tried to block one of two black jurors in the final group. Defense attorney Earl Gray argued that an Ethiopian-American woman in the jury pool didn’t understand the criminal justice system…

Source: 2 Arrested in Oakland Warehouse Fire that Killed 36

Formal charges are expected late Monday

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – A man who illegally rented out space in an Oakland, California, warehouse that caught fire and killed 36 people has been arrested and will be charged with involuntary manslaughter along with the organizer of a party at the site, a source close the investigation told The Associated Press on Monday. The Alameda County district attorney says…

Orlando Shooting: 5 People Dead After ‘Disgruntled’ Ex-Employee Opens Fire, Police Say

Fox 35 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Five people were shot and killed at an Orlando business on Monday morning by a “disgruntled” former employee who then turned the gun on himself, police said. Officers responded to a call about an active shooter at Fimma off Forsyth Road in Orange County, near Full Sail University, just after 8 a.m., Orange County…

Police: Man Stabbed Multiple Times In Finlayson

Victim, Suspect Live Together

FINLAYSON, Minn. (Press Release) — The Pine County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an assault which took place early this morning in the city of Finlayson. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents and crime scene personnel are assisting with the investigation. Shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, Pine County sheriff’s deputies responded to two 911 calls reporting an assault at an…

Volunteers Needed For Local Fire Departments

Be Somebody Campaign In Brule Looks For Recruits

Brule, Wis. – As part of the “Be Somebody” campaign, more than 30 volunteer fire departments throughout North West Wisconsin came together in Brule. No matter what day, or the time in the day it is. If you’re a volunteer first responder and duty calls, you drop everything and head out the door. “I’ve had to walk away from games…

Driver Headed Wrong Way on Bong Bridge Causes Fatal Accident

Another multi-vehicle crash occured just 3 miles away around the same time

DULUTH, Minin. – Traffic around the Twin Ports came to a halt this evening as emergency crews responded to a number of serious crashes. The first happened around 5:30 p.m. on the Bong Bridge near the Wisconsin and Minnesota state line. A state trooper on scene told Fox 21 a car heading the wrong way in the westbound lane hit…

Car Crashes into Townhome Causing Gas Leak in Hermantown

  HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hermantown Police and Hermantown Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a report of a gas leak in the Deer Field Townhome complex. Officers arrived and discovered an SUV struck a parked vehicle and then drove into a townhome. The SUV broke a gas line to the townhome causing a leak and evacuation…

Ex-Bemidji Principal Charged with Child Porn

BEMIDJI, Minn. (KMSP) – A former assistant principal at Bemidji Middle School has been federally charged with producing and distributing child pornography and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. On Wednesday, 34-year-old Brandon Mark Bjerknes had his first appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Paul. According to a personnel data request with the school district, Bjerknes worked for…

Ball Slasher Strikes at Superior High School

The incident took place on May 24 around 3:00 a.m.

Courtesy: Douglas Co. Jail SUPERIOR, Wis. – A Duluth man with prior convictions involving the slashing of exercise balls has been arrested once again, this time for an alleged incident at Superior High School. Christopher Neil Bjerkness, 39, has previously been convicted for several other incidents involving burglary and damage to property. He has also openly admitted to becoming sexually…

Committee OKs Bills Sending More Kids to Troubled Prison

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Assembly Corrections Committee has approved two Republican bills that could send more kids to Wisconsin’s troubled youth prison for longer stints. Currently judges can sentence children 14 and older to the prison for up to three years for certain serious crimes. One bill would expand the list of crimes to include all felonies. The other…

Minnesota Officer Charged in Castile Shooting Goes on Trial

The shooting happened on July 6, 2016

Courtesy: KMSPMINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The graphic video showing Philando Castile’s final moments after he was shot by a Minnesota police officer made headlines nearly a year ago and led to calls for changes in policing. But squad car video could emerge as key evidence in the case against St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez, who goes on trial for manslaughter…

1 Dead, 4 Injured in Solway Township Crash

DULUTH, Minn. – Early Monday morning, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a one vehicle accident in Solway Township. Officers arrived to the scene at Canosia Road and West Arrowhead Road, and located five occupants of a vehicle that had left the roadway and over turned. A 19-year-old passenger, identified as Axton Whitfield, was ejected…

Hermantown Police Take on Super Shoplifters

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, a Hermantown officer responded to the report of two individuals shoplifting at a Hermantown business near the 5200 block of Miller Trunk Highway. The officer arrived on scene to find a 22-year-old male wearing a Wonder Woman cape and a 29-year-old female wearing a Bat Girl cape. Authorities indicate…

High-Speed Chase Ends In Arrest In St. Louis County

  Robert Getty (St. Louis Co Jail) CHERRY, Minn. – Deputies from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s office attempted to arrest a 48-year old male in the Cherry Township area around 5 a.m. Sunday, May 28. The male, who authorities have identified as Robert Getty, of McKinley, was wanted on charges stemming from a domestic assault which has occurred in…

Arrest Warrant Issued for Lindgren

Carlton Co. Sheriffs Looking for Suspect in Kidnapping and Assault

CARLTON, Minn. – Police are looking for the suspect in a Carlton County kidnapping and assault earlier this month. Carlton Co. Sheriffs issued an arrest warrant for 21 year old Scott Lindgren Friday. The new charge is for allegedly threatening and tampering with a witness. Lindgren was originally accused of seven felonies, stemming from an incident where a child was…

Former Councilor Garfield Pleads Not Guilty in Domestic Violence Incident

Will be Back in Court July 21

SUPERIOR, Wis.-Former Superior City Councilor Graham Garfield entered a not guilty plea today in connection with four charges, including one felony in relation to an alleged domestic violence incident with his then fiancé in April. The felony carries with it a maximum of 12 years in prison. Garfield is accused of pointing a loaded gun at his former girlfriend and…

Finland Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Murder

Kirk Bigby GRAND MARAIS, Minn. – A Finland, Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to Felony Murder in the shooting of a Bloomington man in December 2015. Sixty-two-year-old, Kirk Lee Bigby, pleaded guilty to the murder of 35-year-old Marcus Roberts Bigby. The shooting happened at the Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte, Minnesota after an altercation between the two men. Full details…

Last Inmate Apprehended in Minneapolis

  LINO LAKES, Minn. – The last offender has been apprehended following a inmate van theft in Lino Lakes. James Douglass Mitchell was found just before 4:30 p.m. in Minneapolis at the 35W and 8th Street SE bridge. Earlier in the day, an offender transportation van was driving from Minnesota Correction Facility – St. Cloud with stops at several other…

Birch Trees Cut Down Illegally in Cook County

Looking for Suspects That Were Driving a Blue Van

COOK COUNTY, Minn.-The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is searching for three or four men who were seen cutting down birch trees illegally in the Tom Lake area. Witnesses said they were driving a blue van and had about 25 birch trees piled up. Those trees are usually sold to craft manufacturers. “Unfortunately, it seems there is a highly profitable market…

Korean Veterans Memorial Vandalized, Just Months Apart From Vietnam Memorial Vandalism

Red Lines Can Be Seen Drawn On Military Badges

Duluth, Minn. Vandals have struck again. This time defacing the Korean Veterans Memorial marking red lines through the badges of 4 branches of military carved into the granite stone. It’s unknown at this time what was actually used to deface the memorial. This isn’t the first time this year a war memorial along Duluth’s Lake Walk has been struck by vandals….

Duluth Police Investigating Phone Scam Posing as Police Chief

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Chief’s secretary received a call from a Duluth resident who was being scammed over the phone, according to the Duluth Police Department. The report indicates that the caller was posing as Police Chief Mike Tusken and informed the person they had won $1,000,000 from Publisher’s Clearing House, but that someone had claimed their prize….

$50 Million Bond Set in Forced Abortion Attempt

Manishkumar Petel (Photo: Clinton Co. N.Y. Sheriff’s Dept) APPLETON, Wis. (WLUK) – A judge in Outagamie County has set $50 million bond for a man accused of trying to cause his girlfriend to miscarry her child nearly a decade ago. The former Kaukauna man forfeited a $750,000 bond when he disappeared in January 2008. He was found in January of…

UPDATE: Wrenshall Assault Victim Released, Authorities Still Seeking Other Suspects

WRENSHALL, Minn. – The 17-year-old male victim, from Duluth, who was found brutally beaten and had been held against his will in Wrenshall, has been released from the hospital, according to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office. His condition and prognosis are not yet known at this time. Authorities believe there was at least one other person involved in the assault….

Vandals Strike Nearly 30 Vehicles In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of drivers became victims of vandalism overnight Sunday into Monday. That’s because the windows of at least 30 vehicles were blown out by what authorities believe were BBs from a BB gun. The damage was felt in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and West Duluth. No arrests were made as of Monday. If you know anything, call…

Baggies of Pot Found in Donation to Once Upon a Child

Photo: Maplewood Police Dept. MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (KMSP) – Before you donate clothes, it might be a good idea to check the pockets. During a virtual ride-along, Maplewood Police tweeted a photo of a rather unusual donation to Once Upon a Child. Apparently instead of just clothing, someone also donated several dozen baggies of marijuana to the resale store. Police say…

13 Students Suspended after Hazing Allegations at Carleton College

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (KMSP) – 13 students have been suspended from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., after school officials say they engaged in hazing activities. In a letter to students and staff, the school’s president Steven Poskanzer said the students engaged in “extreme alcohol consumption” as part of initiation into a “secret co-ed social club.” Poskanzer said the school launched an…

Extra Seat Belt Enforcement Hits Minnesota Roads

Click it or Ticket campaign will run through June 4

MINNESOTA – Extra enforcement for more than 300 agencies will hit Minnesota roads today for the Click It or Ticket campaign run by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. Agencies will conduct extra seat belt violation enforcement, which will run for two weeks throughout the entire state. Minnesota law states that drivers and all passengers must…

Fire Burns Home in Wrenshall that’s Connected to Alleged Kidnapping Last Week

Home Believed to be Unoccupied at the Time

WRENSHALL, Minn.-An early morning fire in Wrenshall has left a two-story house in shambles for the second time in a week. Scott Lindgren, Carlton Co. Jail Last week 21-year-old Scott Lindgren was charged with seven felonies in connection to a May 15 incident at 804 County Road 18 in Wrenshall – the same place where the fire was at about…

Minnesota Lawmaker Robbed at Gunpoint

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A state legislator is OK after being robbed at gunpoint in St. Paul. Police say Rep. Dennis Smith, of Maple Grove, was walking on Grand Avenue in St. Paul Thursday night when he was approached by a gunman. The suspect pointed the gun at Smith and demanded his wallet and phone. Reports say Smith complied…