WINTER STORM-UPPER MIDWEST

Fast-moving storm to affect travel in Upper Midwest states

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A winter storm system was building steam in South Dakota Sunday morning and has prompted weather alerts in eastern North Dakota, northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The National Weather Service says the storm was expected to move quickly from southwest to northeast and could dump up to a foot of snow in some areas of eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Potential drifting could make travel nearly impossible with blowing snow becoming more of a factor on Monday. Another system on a similar track will follow for Tuesday into Wednesday with very cold temperatures to follow for the remainder of the week.

PEDESTRIAN FATAL-SQUAD CAR

Deputy strikes, kills St. Michael man on way to medical call

ST. MICHAEL, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say an 84-year-old man was struck and killed by a Minnesota sheriff’s deputy who was driving to a medical emergency. The Minnesota State Patrol says Harold Welter was hit in a St. Michael driveway by Wright County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Hatzenbeller shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday. Troopers did not provide further detail on how the squad car ended up in the driveway. The incident report said the road conditions were snowy and icy. Hatzenbeller, of Otsego, was not injured. The Star Tribune reports that Welter was a lifelong resident of St. Michael. He spent 23 years on the St. Michael Fire Department. He served 14 years on the city council and was mayor from 1987 to 1991.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASSAULT SENTENCE

Man who attacked worker over mask must serve year in prison

HUTCHINSON, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man who attacked a Menards employee after the worker told him to wear a mask and then assaulted a responding police officer with a hammer has been sentenced to a year in prison. Luke Oeltjenbruns, of Hutchinson, pleaded guilty to charges of first and second-degree assault for the April incident. In addition to the prison time, he was ordered to serve ten years of probation, perform community service, attend therapy and write letters of apology to the victims. The 61-year-old Oeltjenbruns is accused of hitting the lumber store employee multiple times in the head with a piece of wood after the employee would not check him out unless he put on a mask. Oeltjenbruns later assaulted an officer who tried to stop him.

VEHICLE THROUGH ICE

Man dies when vehicle goes through Lake Bemidji in Minnesota

BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say one man died when a vehicle went through the ice on Lake Bemidji in northwestern Minnesota. Rescue personnel who responded to a call about 5:30 p.m. on Friday found that a woman was able to get out of the water on her own and was transported to a local hospital. A man was pulled out of the vehicle by a Bemidji firefighter wearing a cold water immersion suit. He was eventually transported to a Fargo, North Dakota hospital, where he died. Authorities say the vehicle was found in 8 to 10 feet of water in an area near Bemidji State University. Deputies estimate that the ice was 4- to 5-feet thick.

MOORHEAD SHOOTING

Moorhead police investigating shooting find assault victim

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — Moorhead police responding to a report of a shooting early Christmas morning discovered a victim who had apparently been assaulted prior to the gunshots. Police say the victim was not shot and did not require immediate medical attention from the alleged assault, which was reported about 5 a.m. Saturday. A spent shell casing and other evidence was collected at the scene. Investigators did not find a firearm. Authorities say the suspect and victim know each other and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety. No further information was immediately released.

HIGHWAY PILEUP

Multi-vehicle pileup reported on I-94 in western Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota State Patrol reported a pileup of about 50 vehicles Saturday afternoon along Interstate-94 between Alexandria and Fergus Falls, northwest of the Twin Cities. No fatalities or life-threatening injuries resulted in the multi-vehicle crash, according to Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow. But I-94 eastbound at Exit 77 near Ashby was temporarily closed for more than an hour. About 50 vehicles were initially reported in the pile-up amid snowy conditions, including several semi tractor-trailers.

CARJACKING-SHOOTING

Man shot during confrontation with carjackers in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities say a man was hospitalized after being shot during an apparent carjacking attempt in south Minneapolis. Officers responded to reports of gunfire Thursday night. When the officers arrived, two men at the scene said they had just emerged from a vehicle when two “young-looking suspects” approached and demanded the vehicle at gunpoint. A confrontation ensued and one of the suspects fired a gun at the two men, striking one of them. The suspects ran from the scene and have not been apprehended. Emergency crews took the injured man to a hospital for treatment, where he is expected to survive.

POLICE SHOOTING-MACHETE

Police shoot man walking in traffic with machete

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) — Police in Austin say an officer shot and killed a man who had been walking in traffic with a machete. WCCO-TV reported Friday that the incident began Wednesday afternoon. When officers arrived he was threatening to hurt people and ducked into an apartment. Police said officers tried to use stun guns on him but they were ineffective. A standoff ensued that lasted more than 24 hours. Officers tried to subdue him using pepper spray and foam bullets. The man finally left the apartment Thursday night and went to a nearby gas station. Officers followed him and he confronted them in the parking lot with a knife. An officer fired and killed the man. He hasn't been identified.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021