NEWS
--The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating an officer use of force incident that happened Tuesday night in Morrison County. The officers who discharged beanbag rounds or chemical munitions during the incident have been identified. Officer Joshua Burgardt has been with the Little Falls Police Department for 13 years. The identity of one Morrison County Sheriff’s Office employee is being withheld under a Minnesota statue. At approximately 5:05pm Tuesday, Todd County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Browerville in southeast Todd County related to an ongoing investigation of suspected criminal activity. The driver did not stop and a pursuit began, heading east on County Road 16 into Morrison County. Morrison County sheriff’s deputies and Minnesota State Patrol troopers joined in the pursuit, which at times reached speeds of 105 mph. The driver shot at pursuing law enforcement during the pursuit. No one was injured. At one point, the driver lost control of the vehicle on southbound Highway 10. The vehicle left the road and struck a tree in the west ditch near County Road 16 in Cushing. The driver did not follow officers commands to exit the vehicle. The pursuing agencies were joined at the scene by the Morrison County SWAT team. At one point, officers fired bean bag rounds to knock out the vehicle’s back window, then fired chemical munitions into the vehicle. As officers approached the vehicle they located the driver with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Officers provided medical aid at the scene and the driver was taken by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls and then by air ambulance to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale where he is being treated for an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. No officers were wearing body cameras. The BCA will determine whether squad cameras captured the shooting during the pursuit or the incident at the crash site. BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun from inside the vehicle. The BCA’s investigation of the incident is ongoing. When the investigation is complete, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the Morrison County Attorney’s Office for review.
–The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office Thursday stated that the death of 35-year-old Michelle Mary Mae of Outing was a homicide. Her body was found Tuesday on some rural property near Swatara where deputies executed a search warrant. A 34-year-old man who lives on the property was arrested for a probation violation. Swatara is about 30 miles south of Grand Rapids. Officials are still waiting for toxicology test results from the medical examiner. Authorities would not elaborate if the 34 year old male was connected to the homicide.
--The next meeting on internet safety and sex trafficking will be Monday from 6-8pm at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. Social Services, public health, area law enforcement with others will be on hand to discuss the dangers to both parents and students. All are invited and this is free of charge. There will be one more meeting on this on October 28th at 7pm at the Swanville High School auditorium.
--Weekend events include dinner theater at Great River Arts tonight and Saturday and also next Thursday through Saturday, Harvest Festival tonight at Immanuel Lutheran in Hillman, fall clean up Saturday at Pine Grove Zoo, Little Falls Care Center Auction and bake sale Saturday, 35th birthday of Little Falls Senior Center with breakfast and events on Sunday and the Memorialization Mass with polka music to remember deceased family members Sunday 10:45am in Lastrup.
--Officials say a commercial-grade firework is the likely cause of a reported explosion in a garbage can at the Albertville Outlet mall last week. Deputies from the Wright County Sheriff's Office responded to report from the mall last Friday night and identified a garbage can outside the Nike store that looked damaged. Evidence of a small explosion was also found inside the garbage can. Witnesses reported seeing a flash and hearing a boom from the can. Authorities say there was some slight damage done to the outside of the building, but no one was hurt in the incident. The investigation is still active, and if you have any information, you are asked to contact the Wright County Sheriff’s Office at 763-682-1162.
--Voters in the Sartell-St. Stephen school district will once again be asked to approve an operating levy this November. This year's levy question calls to support an increase of $1.77 million per year for the next 10 years. The funding increase would support academic and activity programs, maintain current class sizes and support school building operations. Last year, voters rejected a similar levy question by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin. Should the levy get rejected again it could result in increase class sizes, changes in student transportation practices and more cuts, like $1.3-million in cuts approved back in April. The elections are on November 5th.
--In honor and remembrance of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings and in accordance with an order issued by the President, Governor Tim Walz has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota today until sunset. Representative Cummings passed away early Thursday morning from longstanding health complications.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the middle school media center. Agenda includes a presentation of Larry Edgerton on Calming Corners, STEM program at Lincoln and the AIM room at Dr. S.G. Knight. State High School League grant application, 2020 meeting schedule, snow removal acceptance and some changes to the high school handbook.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
DEATH NOTICE
--Charles “Chuck” Reaser, age 59 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny and windy, high 63.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, winds die down, low 43.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 60, clear night, low 35.
SUNDAY= increasing clouds, afternoon showers, high 56.
SUNDAY NIGHT= rain and thunderstorms likely, low 46.
MONDAY= showers & T storms early, winds turning gusty, highs around 50 early then dropping, rain turning to snow at night.
SPORTS
COL FB= Gophers at Rutgers Saturday at 2:30pm on AM960 KLTF
NFL= Vikings at Detroit Lions Sunday at noon.
HS FB= High School football playoffs are set for Morrison County teams. Little Falls is at Willmar at 7pm on AM960 KLTF Pierz is hosting St. Cloud Cathedral at 7pm on FM94 KFML Upsala-Swanville will be hosting Benson and Royalton is at Eveleth Gilbert which is a 6pm kickoff live on Q92 WYRQ. All games will be on Tuesday night to open playoffs in football with the winners moving on to Saturday.
MLB= Houston wins 8-3 over Yankees to go up 3-1, game 5 tonight.