NEWS
–The Little Falls Police Department received a call at 11:38am Saturday morning of a vehicle crashing into the Family Dollar Store on Sixth Street Northeast in Little Falls. The police department stated that 57-year-old Colleen Stuckmeyer of Pierz was driving eastbound on Highway 27 she crossed the west bound lane of traffic, left the roadway and crashed into the Family Dollar. Stuckmeyer was transported to St. Gabriel’s hospital with unknown injuries.
--On Thursday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force conducted multiple search warrants in and around the St. Cloud area relating to the distribution of controlled substance and weapons crimes. Investigators learned that an individual 31-year old Tyler Neil Pelzer of St. Cloud, was suspected of distributing cocaine in and throughout the St. Cloud area. Investigators started an investigation into Pelzer and ultimately were able to conduct several undercover buys of suspected cocaine. Investigators observed Pelzer driving on Interstate 94 near Avon. Investigators worked with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, and conducted a traffic stop on Pelzer. Pelzer was arrested for suspected 1st degree sales of controlled substances and transported to Stearns county Jail. Search warrants were executed throughout Central Minnesota. Ultimately Investigators executed a search warrant in the 1300 block of 15th Street North in St. Cloud. During the search warrant investigators located; 4,536 grams of suspected marijuana, 980 grams of suspected liquid THC, 530 grams of suspected THC edibles, 31 grams of suspected THC powder, 42 grams of suspected THC wax, 8.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 25 grams of suspected cocaine. Along with the controlled substances, Investigators also located 3 semi- automatic handguns. All handguns were in proximity to the controlled substances and one of the handguns was reported stolen. At the time the search warrant, the apartment residents were not home. This Investigation is still active, and more arrests are expected. The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force was assisted by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Cloud Police Department. The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of Investigators from St. Cloud, and Sartell, Police Departments and deputies from Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Todd and Morrison Counties Sheriff’s Office.
--A 25-year-old man from Marshall, Michigan was killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident Thursday in Wadena County. The accident was east of Menahga in Wadena County near the intersection of County Road 18 and County Road 25. Dylan John McConnell was identified by the Minnesota State Patrol. Witnesses reported McConnell as driving erratically and that he was not familiar with the roadway, according to a Wadena County Sheriff's Office news release. McConnell passed the witness close to a curve, drove onto the gravel shoulder, lost control of the motorcycle and crashed after leaving County Road 18 in Huntersville Township. The motorcycle came to a stop in the Shell River and McConnell slid toward the bridge and struck a steel post, the release stated. Despite life-saving measures, he died at the crash scene. Speed was a contributing factor in the crash, according to the release.
--A Richmond man was taken to the hospital after a firework accident last Wednesday night around 7:45am in the city of Richmond. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says the victim, 31-year-old Neal Schmitt, had a firework explode in his hand causing extensive injuries. Schmitt was flown to North Memorial Hospital for treatment.
--A Holdingford man died in a crash near Upsala. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 1:20am Sunday on Highway 238 just east of 50th Avenue. 55-year-old James Hadley of Holdingford went off the road to the right and vaulted off a field approach. Hadley was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital where he died. Troopers say he was not wearing his seatbelt.
--A St. Cloud man was seriously hurt in a crash in Elk River. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 5:20pm Sunday on Highway 10 at Joplin Street. An SUV driven by 43-year-old Christopher Rock of Elk River was east on Highway 10 making a left turn onto Joplin. A car driven by 19-year-old Andrew Ohara of St. Cloud was going west on the highway and the two vehicles collided. Ohara was taken to North Memorial with life-threatening injuries. Rock was taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A Sauk Rapids woman is accused of stabbing a man in the chest Monday morning. According to a criminal complaint filed in Benton County court 39-year old Mey Gail McClinton-Vaughn of Sauk Rapids, is facing a felony charge of second-degree assault. Sauk Rapids Police responded to a report of a stabbing at a Sauk Rapids residence just after 9am Monday. There, officers found a man with a stab wound and McClinton-Vaughn outside the residence. The man was taken to a hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A Paynesville man is accused of burning down the mobile home he was living in. Paynesville Police responded to the 400 block of Minnie Street Thursday morning to find a trailer fully engulfed and 42-year-old Nicholas Voss standing near it. Police confirmed Voss was a tenant in the trailer and detected the smell of gasoline on him. Police say Voss ultimately admitted to starting the fire using gasoline and a lighter. Later, when Voss was being booked into the Stearns County Jail. Voss is charged with 1st-degree arson of a dwelling.
--The Morrison County Area Foundation (MCAF) is offering participants a chance to “canoe and kayak” down the Mississippi in its “Ride the River” fundraiser, set for Saturday, July 24. From 10am-3pm participants can bring their own watercraft or rent one to take a ride down the river, starting at Belle Prairie Park and ending at Le Bourget Park in Little Falls. An after-party with music and activities will follow, to celebrate the local community. The Morrison County Area Foundation is a partner fund of the Initiative Foundation that serves as a vehicle for gathering and distributing charitable gifts to make a lasting contribution to the community. Sign up for the event on the Morrison County Area Foundation facebook page.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marjorie E. Schmidtbauer, age 78 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and hazy, high 85
TONIGHT= clear night, low around 60.
TUESDAY= sunny and warm, high 88, PM storms devleop late day.
WEDNESDAY= showers and storms morning and evening, high 82.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins win 4-2 Friday night over Tigers. Twins rally for 9 runs in the last 3 innings to beat Detroit 9-4 on Saturday. A very wild game Sunday with Polanco's walk off homer giving the Twins a 12-9 win in 10 innings. The Twins are now on All Star Break until Friday.
LYNX= Lynx win Friday over Las Vegas and Sunday over Los Angeles to go into the Olympic Break with a 7 game winning streak.