NEWS
--An emergency room patient at the Brainerd hospital allegedly stole an unattended medical van from the parking lot Tuesday eventually prompting police to subdue him with a stun gun. An employee of Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center reported the vehicle theft to the Brainerd Police Department at 2:40pm. According to police, emergency department staff attempted to convince the suspect, a 50-year-old man from Breezy Point, to return to the hospital, but instead the man entered a Medi-Van parked nearby. While exiting the parking lot, the man apparently struck a dumpster with the van and went on to drive through the heart of downtown Brainerd. Police reported Crow Wing County dispatchers received a number of calls reporting the erratic path of the Medi-Van, which according to a witness included switching lanes and driving on sidewalks. Officers from Brainerd and Baxter followed the suspected path of the vehicle and caught up with the suspect on the 500 block of Maple Street. The suspect then attempted to flee on foot and police struck the man with a stun gun. The man was apprehended and transported to Crow Wing County Jail, where he awaits formal charges. According to police, a hospital staff member suffered minor injuries as the man left, and the Medi-Van sustained damage. The manner in which the man arrived at the hospital was unknown, although police confirmed he was not transported there by law enforcement.
--A 24-year-old Brainerd man faces charges after allegedly strangling a woman and biting one of her fingers. Jayme James Hanson was charged last week in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor assault. According to the probable cause court document filed against Hanson, police spoke to the victim in the emergency room at the Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center. The victim explained she and Hanson, who know each other, were arguing when he threw her onto the bed, got on top of her and started to strangle her with his hands around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. Hanson grabbed a piece of glass and began cutting himself on the neck. The victim attempted to get the glass piece away from him, at which time she was cut above her right eye. The victim also stated Hanson bit her right index finger during the altercation. Hanson appeared in court on Monday and has another hearing pending.
--MN Dot announced this week that all lanes, cross street connections and sidewalks along Business Highway 371/South Sixth Street between Highway 210/Washington Street and Joseph Street in Brainerd are now open. The $5.7 million project, that started late-fall 2017, includes a smoother road surface, improvements to city underground utilities and infrastructure, new pedestrian sidewalks and approaches as well as updated signal systems and road signs. In the upcoming weeks, detour signs, cones and barricades will be removed along area roads. Watch for crews and plan on some temporary lane or shoulder closures as work wraps up. Permanent road markings will be completed in 2019, when temperatures are warmer. The Minnesota Department of Transportation thanks the Brainerd Community for its continued patience during this project to improve Business Highway 371/South Sixth Street.
--The Franciscan Sisters will be hosting a “Solidarity for Pittsburgh” silent prayer service today at 12:30-1:30pm at the Convent. A time to pray for those who were killed and effected by the tragic events.
--Employment Enterprises Inc. of Little Falls is hosting a fundraiser comedy show and taco bar Friday starting at 5:30pm at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. EEI is looking to build a new art space as the non-profit helps to serve those with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. Tickets can be purchased at the event for $45 on Friday. For more details call EEI at 320-632-9251.
--Two people were hurt when a tow truck was struck by a semi in Buffalo. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 9:30pm Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 55 and Wright County Road 14. A tow truck driven by 46-year-old Eric Hurley of Buffalo was going north on the county road, he stopped at a stop sign at the highway, then went into the intersection and was struck by the semi. Hurley and his passenger, 42-year-old Destiny Hurley of Buffalo, were both taken to Buffalo Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The semi driver, 34-year-old Yeng Chang of St. Paul, was not hurt.
--Four people were arrested Saturday following a police pursuit on Highway 18, between Brainerd and Garrison. The Minnesota State Patrol was attempting to stop a vehicle about 10 near the intersection of Highway 18 and Nokay Lake Road. The trooper was attempting to stop the vehicle for a window tint violation and suspected impairment. The vehicle fled from authorities and crashed at Highway 18 and Crow Wing County Highway 8. There were four people in the vehicle, an 18-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man and they all fled the vehicle on foot and into the woods. They did not have any weapons. The state patrol reported the pursuit did not last long and was about seven to eight minutes. The four were taken into custody for fleeing in a motor vehicle and fleeing on foot.
--St. Cloud Apollo was put into containment Wednesday afternoon after report of a gun in a locker. It was found to be a BB gun, the parents of the student were notified and no threat or injuries.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, stray shower late day, high 47.
TONIGHT= showers likely, mainly overnight, low near 35.
FRIDAY= rain/snow early then cloudy with light rain, high 42.
SATURDAY= cloudy rain/snow at times, high 42, low 35.
SUNDAY= rain changing to snow, windy, high 40, low near 30.
SPORTS
HS FB= Royalton vs. Moose Lake-Willow River tonight in section finals at 7:15pm from Esko on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
HS VB= Royalton volleyball is 2 wins away from the state tournament as they take on BBE tonight at 6pm in Little Falls winner plays for the section title Saturday night in Little Falls at 7pm.
NFL= Oakland at San Francisco tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1512= Michelangelo ceiling at Sistine Chapel put on display.
IN 1604= William Shakespeare's “Othello” first presented in London
IN 1800= John Adams and his wife Abigail got to move into the new Executive Mansion in what is now Washington DC, the mansion is now called the White House (first named that in 1902).
IN 1894= Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley filmed by Thomas Edison considered the first movie production put on movie style film.
IN 1938= Seabiscuit wins what is called Match of the Century.