Public Safety

Feds: Chicago Drug Operation Preying On Duluth Area Busted

DULUTH, Minn. – A Chicago-based drug trafficking ring that’s been targeting the Duluth area has been broken up with eight members indicted by the feds, according to the United States Attorney’s Office District of Minnesota. The announcement was made Tuesday in Duluth by U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay and County…

Hibbing Drug Bust Ends With 3 Charged

HIBBING, Minn. — A drug bust in Hibbing has ended with three people charged. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said Jennifer Schostag, 48, of Anoka; Michael Peterson, 51, of Hibbing; and David Hoskins, 60, of Sandstone are charged with various first-degree sale and possession charges for methamphetamine and cocaine. The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force conducted the investigation…

Duluth Man Convicted Of Manslaughter, Domestic Assaults Arrested Again

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth man convicted of second-degree manslaughter and two cases of domestic assault within 10 years is back in jail facing three new serious charges. Police said Kyham Lavon Dunn, 30, was arrested Friday as he entered the porch of a home where a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order was in place. According to court documents, Dunn…

Supporters of Missing Man Push Tribal Police to Ask FBI For Help

Protesters say Fond du Lac police should ask for outside help; Chief says he has "full confidence" in his department.

People frustrated about the search effort for a missing man gathered outside Duluth’s FBI office Friday. Ironically, the group was not protesting the FBI–but rather–pushing the Fond du Lac tribal police department. Friends and supporters of 31-year-old Peter Martin say they want the tribal police department to ask for the FBI’s help in finding him. Friday marked three weeks since…

Duluth Police Department Recognizes Staff Members for Their Service

DULUTH, Minn. — Friday the Duluth Police Department recognized staff for their impact on the community during a Commendation Ceremony. Police officers and department employees gathered for the ceremony as many were honored for their exceptional service. Some staff members were recognized for promotions and leadership work, and others were honored with special awards, including ‘Police Officer of the Year,’…

30 Years Later: Musical Event To Honor Victims Of Duluth Triple Murder

The public event happens Thursday, March 28 at Zeigeist's Teatro Theatre

DULUTH, Minn. – Thursday, March 28, marks 30 years since a triple murder took the lives of three young men during a house party in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood. And Thursday evening, a live public musical storytelling will happen at Zeitgeist’s Teatro Theatre to talk about the history, the music, the lives, the loss and the healing since that 1994…

Criminal Charges Dropped Against Duluth Edison Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault of Student

His attorney said, "This matter underscores the importance of the presumption of innocence."

Duluth, MN–Criminal charges have been dropped against a Duluth Edison elementary school teacher who had been accused of sexually assaulting a female student. His attorney said the allegations “were fake” and that he “never sexually assaulted anyone.” John Paul Horgeshimer, age 49, had been charged after a female student at Duluth Edison Charter Schools’ Raleigh Academy told her teacher that…

Duluth City Councilors, Residents Express Raw Emotion Over Gaza Resolution Debate

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth city councilors faced a full house at Monday night’s council meeting, with raw emotions pouring out from elected officials and residents for nearly three hours. At issue, was whether to pass a resolution supporting a quote “permanent ceasefire to prevent loss of human life in the Middle East.” Some councilors felt strongly to pass the resolution,…

25-Year-Old Duluth Man Charged With 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Girlfriend

Nine days earlier, the courts had issued a "No Contact" order to stay away from Allisa Vollan.

DULUTH, Minn. –Dale John Howard has been charged with murder in the death of the girlfriend he had been ordered to stay away from just nine days earlier. Howard, age 25, faces two felony counts in the death of Allisa Vollan, age 27. She was found dead in an apartment complex at 31 East 5th Street on Friday. Howard is…

Demolition Begins For Condemned Superior Bar, Apartments After Fire

SUPERIOR, Wis. — An apartment building and bar in Superior is being torn down after a Thanksgiving fire condemned the building in November. Crews were seen demolishing the former Viking Lounge and apartments on Superior north end. The fire broke out around 10 a.m. Nov. 23 on the 1500-block of North 5th Street near the Hammond Steakhouse. By the time…

City Releases Statement On Downtown Safety After Alleged Sexual Assault In Skywalk

In the skywalk off the downtown Transportation Center, victim says it only stopped when other people were walking toward them.

DULUTH, Minn. — An alleged sexual assault in the Duluth Skywalk system has resulted in felony charges against a Duluth man. The report came in Sunday afternoon, March 10, when police responded to a report of a sexual assault at the downtown Duluth Transportation Center. The criminal charges became public Tuesday, March 19, when first reported by the Duluth News…

Duluth Police Ask For Help Finding Taco John’s Armed Robbery Suspect

Robbery happened last weekend at West Duluth location.

UPDATE (March 15, 10:05 a.m.) — Duluth Police are now asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect involved in Sunday’s robbery at a Taco John’s in West Duluth. A description says the individual was wearing dark clothing, a dark winter coat with black fur around the hood, a mask, and sunglasses. Police say they did stop someone who…

Juvenile Questioned After Potential Gun Threat At Proctor High School

PROCTOR, Minn.  — A juvenile male is being questioned after Proctor High School went on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a potential threat involving a weapon in the school’s Media Center, according to Proctor Police Chief Kent Gaidis. Authorities say 911 dispatch began getting calls around 4:30 p.m. about a “potential gun or weapon” at the school. Multiple agencies responded, including…

Superior National Forest Planning & Preparing For Wildfire Threat

No snow and warm temps ramp up risk; New federal funds now available for more states facing wildfire threat.

Preparations are already underway for a potentially early and serious wildfire season in Minnesota. The Superior National Forest may be among the regions particularly vulnerable and the agency will be applying for new federal funds to help prevent and reduce the potential for wildfires. The combination of no snow, warm temperatures and dry ground present a danger. “All the way…

Family Freedom Center: Suspicious Person ‘Brandished’ Firearm To Teen

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating after a person “brandished” a firearm near a playground of an after-school program. The Family Freedom Center said a “suspicious” person approached one of its teens with the firearm while outside with the Center’s dog. The incident happened around 2:45 p.m. March 7 on the 300-block of N. First Avenue West.  That address…

Missing Person Identified, Found Dead Near Pattison Park in Superior

UPDATE (March 11, 11:50 a.m.) — The person who went missing and found dead 3 days later at Pattison Park in the Town of Superior has been identified. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the person is 65-year-old Kim Creager from Washington County, Minnesota. Authorities say no foul play is suspected. ORIGINAL POST: SUPERIOR, Wis.– On Wednesday night, March 6, the…

Siren Emergency “Warning” Was Mistake; Wrong Button Pushed

St. Louis County apologizes to citizens who were concerned.

It was the first Wednesday of the month and that meant emergency sirens were blaring across parts of the county–not for a real emergency–but for a test. However, instead of a test–a real warning was sent out. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said it was all a mistake. The department said one of its operators inadvertently pressed the “warning”…

Wildfire Season Starting Early DNR Advises Homeowners

Homes Near Undeveloped Wildlands or Open Spaces At Higher Risk According to MN DNR

DULUTH, Minn. — With warmer temperatures and little snow this winter, the DNR says the potential for wildfires will be high this year. In the last two and a half weeks, the DNR has responded to 77 wildfires covering over 4,500 acres. That’s over half the acres covered by wildfires in all of last year. Wildfire season typically starts in…

Father Of Daughter Killed In Cloquet Hotel Shooting: ‘It’s Just The Randomness Of It’

CLOQUET, Minn. — The father of a young Cloquet hotel clerk, Shellby Trettel, 22, reacted Monday to a final investigative report involving the shooting death of his daughter and a guest at the Super 8 hotel this past January. Trettel’s father, Tim, spoke with FOX 21 Monday afternoon – not only about the final report, but how his family is…

Burnsville First Responders Memorial Service

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — More than 7,500 colleagues, friends, and family gathered to remember the two Burnsville police officers and one firefighter who died in the line of duty. The loss was felt far beyond Burnsville as literally thousands of police officers and firefighters from throughout Minnesota and around the country, including officers and firefighters from both Duluth and Superior…

Duluth Police Remember K-9 Luna Three Years Since Being Shot, Killed

DULUTH, Minn. – Three years ago Sunday, Duluth Police K-9 Luna was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The suspect, 37-year-old David Conwell, was hiding in a bedroom closet. K-9 Luna attempted to apprehend Conwell when he began shooting a shotgun at officers and fatally struck Luna. St. Louis County deputies would later shoot and kill Conwell after…

Superior Police Investigate Hit-And-Run

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior police are investigating a hit-and-run incident. Chief Paul Winterscheidt told FOX 21 officers responded around 8 p.m. Friday at 22nd avenue East and E Second Street, which is near the Super One plaza. Winterscheidt said the 38-year-old male driver from Duluth rear-ended an occupied vehicle before fleeing the scene, crashing through a residential fence and finally…

Firefighter Recruits Train With Flames In Moose Lake

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – Northland firefighter recruits faced raging flames this weekend during a training event in Moose Lake. The Moose Lake Area Fire District hosted the training, which included how to handle a chimney fire. Blue Fire Training is behind the program, which dedicates to supporting fire, EMS and law agencies be their very best. Moose Lake will host…

Goal is to Coordinate Disaster Recovery and Response

Agencies come together to plan for floods, tornadoes and blizzards.

High flood waters caused several motorists to become stuck on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Flint, Mich. High water from storm flooding closed roads in Michigan. (Bronte Wittpenn/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) Talk about preparing for a natural disaster can often be just that–talk. The Northland does not have hurricanes, but it does have its share of huge rainstorms, big…

Pistol, 2 KG Of Fentanyl, Cocaine Seized During Duluth Man’s Arrest

DULUTH, Minn. — A significant amount of cocaine, fentanyl and meth are off the streets of Duluth after investigators executed a search warrant on Monday. Diaunte Shields Diaunte Shield, 43, of Duluth was arrested on felony warrants for parole violations involving drugs and weapons. The arrest happened 5:40 a.m. Monday at Shield’s residence in the 4700-block of Matterhorn Drive. During…

Mild Winter Still Finds People Seeking Shelter

Those working with people on the street say less snow and cold does not solve lack of permanent places to sleep.

The unusually mild and snowless winter has created challenges and problems for those who are counting on a real winter, but it has not necessarily meant a break for those who live on the street. The warming centers operated by CHUM provide relief and safety for those who need it, but this winter they have still been seeing sixty to…

Newly elected Duluth City Councilor Janet Kennedy running for County Commissioner

DULUTH, MN – Newly elected Duluth City Councilor no longer wants the job. Three months in, Janet Kennedy has decided she will run for County Commissioner. Kennedy made the announcement standing on the St. Louis County Courthouse steps. Kennedy, in explaining her reason for changing her mind and wanting to switch jobs, said with her two major initiatives focused on…

Duluth Firefighter Injured In Hit-And-Run Incident To Get ‘Advanced Physical Therapy’

Raymond Skoglund DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth firefighter who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident last month will soon be getting specialized care at a hospital in Colorado. Ray Skoglund, 24, will fly out of Monaco Air around 11:45 a.m. Monday to head to Craig Hospital in Denver to receive advanced physical therapy, according to the city of Duluth….

St. Louis County Receives New Fire Suppression Tools

The Glen Avon and Euclid Masonic Lodges Donated 10 New Devices to the County

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office received a new tool today that will help first responders who arrive at fires before firefighters. First responders will use be able to use to ten new fire suppression tools to quickly reduce the temperature by nearly one thousand degrees and flame activity. Once activated, they can throw the device into…

Virginia Man Sentenced For Alcohol, Cannabis-Induced Fatal Crash

A Virginia man was sentenced Monday for causing an alcohol and cannabis-induced crash last fall that killed a woman. David Medicine, 38, will face 41 months in prison for the crime, according to court records. Medicine was driving on Highway 169 during the evening hours when he slammed his vehicle into a pick-up truck that was sitting still in backed-up…

Duluth Man Dies In Crash On Skyline Parkway

Car rolled over and man found inside.

A 26-year-old Duluth man died Sunday when his car rolled over. The man has been identified by Duluth Police as Logan Woock. Police say it happened on West Skyline Parkway in the 1400 block. Police received a call about 3:30 Sunday morning saying that a vehicle was off the road. When officers arrived, they found a car rolled over with…

3 Dead, 2 Seriously Injured In Head-On Crash In Koochiching County

NORTHOME, Minn. — Three people are dead and two others were fighting for their lives Sunday after a head-on crash in Koochiching County. The accident was reported just after 11 a.m. on Highway 1, west of Koochiching County Road 15 in Northome, which is about 70 miles southwest of I-Falls. The Minnesota State Patrol says Joseph Carlson, 27, of North…

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Celebrates New Hires and Promotions

County goes from understaffed to hiring 49 new employees

DULUTH, Minn. — Nearly 50 St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office employees were recognized today as new hires or for recent promotions. The ceremony celebrated all different roles in public safety, including communications, court security, janitorial staff, and cooks. Sheriff Gordon Ramsey says they went from understaffed to recruiting what’s likely the most hires in a year. He said those honored…

Section Chief’s Academy Creates Leaders in Incident Management

The week of workshops teaches about leading during disaster

DULUTH, Minn. — This week, a hundred people from across North America gathered to become leaders in of incident management. The Incident Command System Section Chief’s Academy trains students in logistics, operations, planning, and more. And while event was put on by the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact, it didn’t limit its focus to just fires, according to Minnesota Department…

New Superior Police Chief Sworn In

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The Superior Police Department officially has a new Police Chief as Paul Winterscheidt was sworn in Monday morning. Winterscheidt is an 18-year veteran of the Superior Police Department and a graduate of U-W Superior. In an interview with Fox 21 in early December, Winterscheidt said he would continue and expand a program that’s designed to keep people…

Pedestrian Critically Injured In Hit-And-Run Is Duluth Firefighter; Driver, 88, Arrested

Raymond Skoglund DULUTH, Minn. –  FOX 21 has learned a pedestrian critically injured in a hit-and-run incident is a Duluth firefighter who joined the department in July of 2021. Raymond Skoglund Raymond Skoglund, 24, was struck by a vehicle Thursday around 5:45 p.m. on the 9500 block of Grand Avenue, according to Duluth police. Caleb Kittleson, a fellow Duluth firefighter,…

Victim Of Duluth Trailhead Vehicle Break-Ins: ‘Enough Is Enough’

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department responded to six vehicle break-ins between Sunday and Monday. Duluth police said the incident happened in the Ely’s Peak Superior Hiking Trail parking area off of Becks Road. Authorities said the suspect or suspects broke into vehicles by breaking windows. Police said “nothing of significant value was taken” as all reporting parties didn’t…

Search Warrants Reveal New Details About Cloquet Hotel Shooting Suspect

CLOQUET, Minn. – Search warrant documents reveal new details about the suspect accused of fatally shooting two people at a hotel in Cloquet before turning the gun on himself. Cloquet police were dispatched at 6:33 p.m. Jan. 8 to the Super 8 hotel for a report of an “attack.” The search warrants say the suspect, Nicholas Lenius, 32, of Ramsey,…

Duluth Police Respond To Armed Robbery At Kenwood Walgreens

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police responded to a report of an armed robbery around 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Kenwood neighborhood Walgreens. When officers arrived to the store in the 1600 block of Kenwood Avenue, employees told police an individual “brandished a firearm and demanded money,” according to a news release. Police said an employee gave an “undetermined amount of…

Duluth Police Investigate Robbery At Knifepoint

Victim gave suspect $2.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating an armed robbery involving a knife. The call for help came in around 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Walgreens on the 1100 block of East Superior Street. The victim told police the male suspect approached him with a knife, took $2 and then fled the area before police arrived. Police say investigators will…

Iron Range Firefighters Battle Dangerously Cold Air During House Fire

Courtesy: Northland Fire Wire HIBBING, Minn. — The dangerously cold air gave firefighters a battle during a house fire in Hibbing over the weekend. The fire was reported around 7:45 p.m. Saturday at the Birchlane Trailer Court, just off of 41st Street East, according to the Northland Fire Wire. Courtesy: Northland Fire Wire Firefighters were faced with strong winds and…

Father Mourns Daughter Killed In Cloquet Hotel Shooting

CLOQUET, Minn. – We are learning more about the life of a young woman who was one of two people shot to death Monday night at the Super 8 hotel in Cloquet. The father of 22-year-old victim Shellby Trettel calls his daughter’s death a “senseless act of violence.” Tuesday: (Cloquet Police Chief Provides Update On Super 8 Shooting Fatalities) Shellby…