By Roz Kohls
Staff Writer
Three men were arrested Wednesday after a raid by 12 law enforcement officers of an apartment at the corner of Millard Avenue and Third Street in Cokato.
Michael Rolla, 20, of Blaine and Jeremy Fuller, 18, of Coon Rapids were arrested for allegedly burglarizing a rural home early Tuesday at 60th Street, Howard Lake, in a home invasion.
Kyle Posusta, 24, was arrested for allegedly possessing the stolen items in his apartment at 300 Millard Ave. Apt. 2, Cokato, according to Wright County Sheriff’s Sgt. Becky Howell.
About an hour before the home invasion in rural Howard Lake, a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe was stolen from an apartment complex on Jackson Avenue in Cokato, she said.
The investigation into the incident is no way complete by Thursday, but officers suspected the two incidents were connected, Howell said.
The homeowner in the Victor Township burglary reported he awoke, and heard the suspects in his home. The homeowner chased one suspect down a flight of stairs into his yard, firing shots at the suspect. The suspect got into a Chevrolet Tahoe and fled the area, according to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
The homeowner went back inside his house and found the second suspect had climbed out a window. Numerous items were missing from the house. Deputies were unable to find the suspects in the area.
The Chevrolet Tahoe was found in the afternoon in the parking lot next to Cokato Elementary School, and there was a bullet hole in the vehicle.
That evening, the sheriff’s office received a report there was a possible car prowler in Cokato. Deputies responded to the area and apprehended Rolla. Rolla allegedly provided information to deputies about the Posusta apartment.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office received permission to execute a search warrant from Judge Dale Mossey of the apartment for the stolen items and other illegal contraband, she said.
Law enforcement officers, some wearing bullet proof vests, suddenly swarmed into the apartment building for the search. Exits from the scene were blocked by officers or their squad cars.
Officers allegedly found the majority of stolen property, guitars, speakers, electric guitar equipment and the victim’s cell phone. Some drug paraphernalia was allegedly recovered also, Howell said.
Rolla was charged with first degree burglary. Fuller was charged with probable cause burglary in the first degree. They also are being investigate for previous burglaries at First National Bank and the State Bank of Cokato.
Posusta was arrested for probably cause possession of stolen property, according to the sheriff’s office.
More information will be released to the public as the investigation continues, Howell said.
Monthly Archive for April, 2008Page 2 of 3
For 10 years, Heather Edgington of Spring Grove has been using her vintage hat collection to reminisce past women’s fashion trends, as well as some of the era’s history each of her hats represents. She will be bringing her program “A Century of Hats – 1860 to 1960″ to St. John’s in Winsted Saturday, May 17. A luncheon will follow the program. The hat show and luncheon is being hosted by the St. John’s Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Everyone attending is encouraged to wear a favorite hat. Read more about Edgington’s hat collection and style shows in the April 21 issue of the Herald Journal.
Despite the implementation of a new security plan that requires all visitors to pass through metal detectors staffed by armed guards, some Wright County government center employees still don’t feel safe. Auditor/Treasurer Bob Hiivala told the county board Tuesday that members of his department who staff the main switchboard are still concerned about their safety. Read the story in the next issue of Herald Journal.
A rural Hutchinson couple was found dead at their residence on Lace Avenue, just west of Silver Lake at 7:21 p.m. April 13, according to a McLeod County Sheriff’s Office report.
Donald Francis Czeck, 41, and Katrin Rose Czeck, 35, of rural Hutchinson were pronounced dead at the scene after investigators from the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office arrived.
An initial investigation has revealed that Katrin succumbed to multiple stab wounds, and Donald died as a result of injuries consistent with a self-inflicted wounds, according to the report.
The incident is currently under investigation by the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Other agencies that assisted at the scene were the Minnesota State Patrol, the Silver Lake Police Department, and the Hutchinson Ambulance Service.
The Highway 7 construction project that was scheduled to start Monday, April 14 has been pushed back one week due to inclement weather, according to MnDOT Engineer Kelly Brunkhorst.
Paul Johnson-Reuben will be laid to rest tomorrow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery after funeral services at Buffalo Covenant Church in Buffalo. Visitation will take place Thursday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the funeral beginning at 11 a.m., according to Richard Lammers of Peterson Chapel.
Visitation will also take place this evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Peterson Chapel located at 119 North Central Avenue in Buffalo.
Reuben was a private contractor for security when he was kidnapped with several other Americans in Iraq 16 months ago. All but one of the contractors kidnapped with him have been accounted for; with all being murdered by Iraqi extremists.
A house fire at 708 Eighth Avenue in Howard Lake early Saturday morning left the owner, Dale “Gup” Montgomery, with second and third degree burns, according to Howard Lake Police Chief Dan Lang.
Montgomery was taken via Howard Lake ambulance to Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, then airlifted to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where he is listed in satisfactory condition as of today.
The fire was ignited by a pellet corn stove in the entryway of the house, and the house and its contents were a total loss, according to Lang.
A benefit fund has been set up in Montgomery’s name at Citizens State Bank at 609 Pacific Avenue, Waverly, MNÂ 55390. (763) 658-4417.
In the aftermath of the firing of McLeod County Administrator Nan Crary, Commissioner Ray Bayerl said today that he does not agree with the road the board is going down. He said he objected to the way the firing was handled, and said the board was not treating employees fairly, and was exposing the county to liability. “I would ask you nicely to step down as board chair,” Bayerl said to Board Chair Grant Knutson. Knutson replied that he has no intention of stepping down. Bayerl then made a motion requesting that Knutson step down. The motion died due to a lack of a second. “If there is anyone out there who feels this (the firing) was not handled the right way, I hope they will speak up,” Bayerl commented.
Editor’s Note #1: A contact list of McLeod County Board commissioners is the following: Bev Wangerin (email), Kermit Terlinden (email), and Sheldon Nies’ (email), as well as Ray Bayerl of Lester Prairie (no email; phone number is 320-485-2181) and Grant Knutson (no email; phone number is 320-587-9108).
Editor’s Note #2: For a letter to the editor about Nan Crary, click here (scroll down to the bottom when you get there). To see Rich Glennie’s editorial in the McLeod County Chronicle about Nan Crary, click here. To see the Hutchinson Leader’s editorial about Nan Crary, click here.
The mail-in ballot operating levy for Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted failed by 687 votes with the following breakdown:
No votes =Â 1,755
Yes votes - 1,068
The family of Paul Reuben told KSTP news that he died from injuries received to his head and chest; probably about six months ago, reported KSTP News. His body arrived in Minnesota yesterday morning (Friday, April 4). His wedding finger was still on his hand, his daughters said during an interview. The finger that had been sent to the government previously turned out to be his pinky finger.
Reuben was a private contractor for security when he was kidnapped with several other Americans in Iraq 16 months ago. All but one of the contractors kidnapped with him have been accounted for; with them being murdered by Iraqi extremists.
