>>Eveleth Man Seriously Burned in House Fire
(Eveleth, MN) — An Eveleth man was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital following a house fire just before noon today. Fire crews arrived on the scene and found a 60-year-old man lying at the end of a driveway, suffering burns over most of his body. The house was fully engulfed in flames. The name of the victim is not being released currently, pending family notification. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
>>RPD Searches for Shuttle Van Suspect
(Rochester, MN) — Rochester Police are searching for a suspect in a stolen van from a local shuttle company. Officers responded to the vehicle theft call around 2:45 this morning (FRI), learning the van had been stolen while it was left running outside the business as customers were getting ready to leave. The van was seen heading north on Highway 52 near Zumbrota around 3 a.m. Authorities deployed stop sticks after a failed attempt to pull the van over. The van stopped near Cannon Falls, and the suspect fled into a nearby field. The suspect is still at large.
>>Brooklyn Park Felon Found Guilty of Possessing Fentanyl, Firearm After Fatal 2023 Crash
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Brooklyn Park man accused of killing five young women in a 2023 crash in Minneapolis has been found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and fentanyl following the crash. 29-year-old Derrick Thompson’s five-day federal trial comes before his trial in Hennepin County, where he has yet to enter a plea. After the June 16th, 2023 crash, authorities searched Thompson’s rental vehicle. Officers found a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, over 2,000 blue M-30 fentanyl pills, 14 grams of fentanyl powder, 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. Later testing showed Thompson’s DNA was present on the firearm and drugs. A search of Thompson’s phone revealed dozens of texts about fentanyl deals. Thompson is set to be sentenced at a later date.
>>Duluth Police Find Missing Man with Health Conditions
(Duluth, MN) — The Duluth Police Department thanks the public for helping find a missing man with health conditions. 61-year-old William Rogers was last seen around Red Rock Trail between 8:30 and 10 a.m. on Thursday. Rogers is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 290 pounds, with gray/brown hair, and walks with a cane. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
>>MN AG Ellison Settles with Brainerd Animal Rescue Nonprofit, CEO
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison has settled with a Brainerd-based nonprofit over the founder’s misuse of charitable assets. Northern Lakes Rescue was founded in 2017 to “rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in crisis.” Ellison alleges NLR and its founder/former president Shannon Steele violated state charity laws by spending roughly $156,000 of charity assets for personal items and expenses, including jet ski rentals, credit card payments, and cash withdrawals. By settling, Steele is now prohibited from serving as any NLR employee or engaging in activities giving her access to finances and operations. NLR must also maintain detailed and accurate books of the nonprofit’s finances, ensure the entire board has visibility of and access to all financial accounts, and conduct an internal audit of their finances from at least 2021 to the present.
>>Repeat Felon Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession
(Minneapolis, MN) — An Oakdale man has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. On February 13th, 2023, New Hope police conducted a traffic stop on a maroon Chevy after the driver committed several traffic violations. Officers smelled marijuana and saw drug paraphernalia in the center console. A search of the vehicle turned up a Glock pistol with a switch, a large-capacity magazine, and additional ammunition. The firearm was later discovered to be stolen. The driver, 35-year-old Detroit Davis-Riley, pleaded guilty to one count of possession on March 14th.
>>Repeat Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm
(Minneapolis, MN) — A 43-year-old repeat felon has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. On March 17th, 2023, Samit Mao entered a St. Paul gas station and unsuccessfully tried to buy a cash card using reward points. Mao punched the glass window before the cash register and was asked to leave the store. After Mao and a security guard left the store, gunfire was exchanged. Mao was hit in the left arm and fled in his car. Officers arrested Mao at a nearby gas station, finding a Springfield Hellcat semiautomatic pistol under his car seat. Mao will be sentenced at a later date.