04-Sep-2025

One Vehicle Crash

A driver was hurt in a crash in Sherburne County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened on Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m. on Highway 24 at 106th Street in Clear Lake Township. Eighty-three-year-old Gary Marsden of Clear Lake was driving a 2015 Porsche Boxster north on the highway from County Road 75 when he left the road and struck a tree. Marsden was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol says assisted by Mayo Ambulance, Sherburne County Sheriff, Wright County Sheriff, and Clear Lake Fire Department.

04-Sep-2025

Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing On Country Road

An investigation is underway after a small airplane that departed from California made an apparent emergency landing on a road near the Minnesota-North Dakota border. The Wilkin County Sheriff's Office says it received report of the landing around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday in the area of 170th Avenue and 160th Street, southeast of Wolverton. The two people on board were uninjured and told deputies that they were flying from San Jose to Park Rapids, Minnesota. Wolverton is roughly 1,850 miles from San Jose, and about 100 miles away from Park Rapids. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are handling the investigation.

03-Sep-2025

ATV Crash

An ATV crash on Saturday in Morrison County sent two people to the hospital. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 7:00 a.m. on the Soo-Line Trail between Partridge Road and 335th Avenue, about six miles east of Pierz. According to the Sheriff's Office, 58-year-old Troy Pelland of International Falls was driving a side-by-side ATV west on the Soo Line Trail when he lost control of the vehicle, entered a steep ditch, and rolled. Pelland, and a passenger on the ATV, 57-year-old Lori Pelland of International Falls, were both taken to the St. Cloud Hospital with unknown injuries. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol, Pierz Fire Department, Pierz First Response Team, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.

03-Sep-2025

Drug Bust

Two people were arrested after authorities discovered illegal drugs, firearms, and a collection of venomous reptiles during a search of a home in Itasca County. 39 year old Courtney Edstrom, of Nowthen, and 34 year old Casey Huro,  of Maple Lake, were taken into custody on Aug. 27 after deputies executed a search warrant at a residence on the 500 block of 4th Street SE in Deer River, according to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies recovered a stolen Glock 45 handgun, multiple magazines, and more than 60 rounds of 9mm ammunition. They also seized approximately 1.57 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a variety of exotic and dangerous animals, including cobras, a green mamba, a boa constrictor, tarantulas, and other venomous species. The reptiles were secured with assistance from 4X4 Reptile Rescue. Authorities said some of the animals are illegal to possess in Minnesota without proper permits. Charges are pending review by the Itasca County Attorney’s Office. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the AIM Violent Crime Enforcement Team, the Deer River Police Department, K9 officers, and Itasca County deputies. The case remains under investigation.

03-Sep-2025

Man Tries To Drown Family Members

A man is in custody after allegedly trying to drown two of his family members in Otter Tail Lake on August 30. According to a release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, they received a call just before 4:00 P.M. that day reporting that a man was attempting to drown two people in the lake. Before officers arrived on scene, a neighbor and family members were able to free the 64-year-old and 25-year-old victims from the man, who was identified as Franklin Dickinson from Shakopee, and bring them to safety while Dickinson remained in the lake. According to the release, Dickinson had become angry and allegedly grabbed his sister by the throat and began to choke her underneath the water. At some point, the victim lost consciousness and was held to the bottom of the lake by Dickinson. The 64-year-old victim, the mother of Dickinson and the other victim, attempted to intervene, at which point Dickinson allegedly began to pull her by the hair towards the water. A neighbor heard the commotion and intervened, allowing both victims to be freed. They were treated on scene by EMS. The 25-year-old victim sustained neck, chest, and collarbone injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Dickinson was talked out of the water by Otter Tail County Deputies and arrested on several charges, including felony domestic assault by strangulation, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, and additional domestic assault charges.

03-Sep-2025

Missing Man Gound Dead

On September 2, at 10:15 a.m. the Ottertail County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for the report of a missing person. It was reported a male had left his home in Pelican Rapids the night before and was heading to the area of the Western Minnesota Steam thresher Reunion in Rollag. Deputies were notified that the male who was later identified as Richard Evenson, was traveling in a red Jeep Wrangler with his dog. At approximately 12:36 p.m., deputies were informed a vehicle was in a slough in the 11000 block of 280th Street South, southeast of Rollag. Upon deputies arrival a vehicle was located submerged underwater approximately 25 feet from the roadway at that location. Valley Water Rescue was contacted to respond to the scene to assist with the removal of the vehicle. It was identified as the red Jeep Wrangler that deputies were searching for. Richard Evenson was located deceased inside the vehicle along with a dog. Evenson was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, and the dog was transported back to Evanson’s residence at the request of the family. The incident remains as an open investigation and no further information is available at this time.