>>Fridley Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting 11-Year-Old in Face in North Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Fridley man is facing federal prison time for shooting an 11-year-old girl in the face on New Year’s Day in north Minneapolis. Prosecutors say 44-year-old James William Turner pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition as a felon and admitted to firing several shots from an AR-style rifle that morning. Police said shots were fired outside the residence, and a round struck the victim through the second-story window. Neighbors provided surveillance video showing Turner firing rounds in that direction.
>>Walz Authorizes National Guard to Assist in Search for Two Missing Canoeists
*Watch for Updates
(St. Louis County, MN) — The search for two missing canoeists in the BWCA will continue with added resources after Governor Tim Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with personnel and machinery. Walz signed an emergency executive order on Thursday allowing the National Guard to provide a helicopter and four crew members for the search mission. The search for 40-year-old Reis Grams of Lino Lakes and 41-year-old Jesse Haugen of Cambridge has been underway since Sunday morning.
>>MN Woman Dies While Walking Along Indiana Highway
(Kokomo, IN) — A Minnesota woman, 38-year-old Dawn Teague of Little Falls, died on Wednesday after being hit by a car on a highway in Kokomo, Indiana. Police reported that when the accident occurred, Teague was trying to walk across U.S. Highway 931. Before the crash, she had been seen walking and talking on her phone along the east side of the highway. The SUV driver involved in the crash stopped at the scene and cooperated with the police.
>>MN Department Of Health To Close Red Wing Nursing Home
(Red Wing, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health has ordered the closure of a nursing home in Red Wing. This week, the agency informed staff members and Bay View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center residents. The state took over the nursing home in December because the facility had problems paying vendors and staff. Efforts to relocate residents are underway, and the facility is expected to close in late July.
>>Drought Conditions Improving
(Undated) — Recent rainfall has helped to alleviate drought conditions across Minnesota. According to the most recent update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 27 percent of the state is still considered Abnormally Dry, an improvement from 39 percent last week. The area experiencing Moderate Drought has decreased to 8 percent, down from 11 percent the previous week. It’s important to note that the report is released on Thursdays, but the data is only collected until 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, so any rainfall that occurred after that time won’t be reflected until next week’s report. The driest region remains in north-central Minnesota.
>>Mille Lacs Lake Road Construction Around the Corner
(Garrison, MN) — A road construction project along Mille Lacs Lake will get underway tomorrow (Tuesday). Crews will begin resurfacing and improving seven miles of Highway 169 south of Garrison on Tuesday. The $4.6-million project will prompt some short segments of the highway to be alternate one-lane, one-way traffic with flaggers Monday through noon on Fridays during daylight hours. In early May, crews replaced three culverts underneath the roadway, prompting a detour around the work zones. There will be some nighttime work and lane closures in June for approximately two weeks. All lanes will be open on weekends and holidays.
>>BCA identifies Officers, Man Shot to Death in Crookston Force Incident
(Crookston, MN) — University of North Dakota Forensic Pathology has identified the man killed May 16 in a use-of-force incident in Crookston. According to the forensic pathologist, 35-year-old Andrew Dale of Crookston died of multiple gunshot wounds. The Minnesota BCA has identified two Crookston police officers and one Polk County sheriff’s deputy who used force during this incident. Officer Nick Fladland fired his department handgun. He has five years of law enforcement experience and is on critical incident leave. Officer Alex Rudnik deployed his Taser. He has 10 years of law enforcement experience. Deputy Matt Benge fired 40 mm foam, less-lethal rounds. He has five years of law enforcement experience.
According to the preliminary investigation, just before 1 a.m. on May 16, the officers came upon Dale walking in the road with a hatchet. They made contact with him, and he ran toward them, still holding the hatchet. Rudnik and Benge used less lethal force, but it was ineffective. Fladland fired his department handgun, striking Dale multiple times. The officers provided life-saving care, but Dale later died at the hospital.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered a hatchet and cartridge casings at the scene. Body-worn cameras captured portions of the incident. BCA agents are reviewing all available videos as part of the active investigation.
The Crookston Police Department asked the BCA to investigate this incident. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without a charging recommendation to the Polk County Attorney’s Office for review.
