5 members of law enforcement task force shot in Benton County, suffer non-life-threatening injuries; suspect arrested

Glendorado Township, Minn. (KNSI) – The suspect accused of shooting five members of law enforcement Thursday morning in Glendorado Township is now in custody.

Three of the wounded officers were rushed to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., and two were taken to CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. The injuries are described as non-life-threatening.

Of the five members injured, three were from the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, one was from the Princeton Police Department and another was from the Elk River Police Department

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said task force members were confronted by the suspect while executing a search warrant near the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township. 

During the initial confrontation, the officers exchanged fire with the suspect. Later in the morning, the suspect was taken into custody without incident, officials said. The suspect was injured and transported from the scene for treatment. The extent of the injuries is unknown at this time.

Following news of the shooting, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association released a statement. The association wrote, quote:

“Today five police officers were shot & injured in Benton Co, near Princeton, MN. Please pray for the officers and their families as they undergo medical treatment. Today’s injuries once again illustrate the increased and grave danger posed to law enforcement & communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the responding officers, for answering the call in the face of danger and putting their lives on the line to help victims of crime and to keep the public safe.”

Glendorado Township is roughly 12 miles west of Princeton.

Grand Forks issues warrant for tire-slashing suspect

Grand Forks Police have issued an arrest warrant for 31-year-old Matthew Morris, who they believe, caused more than $17,000 in damage to other people’s vehicles in an apparent tire-slashing spree.

A warrant for felony criminal mischief was issued for Morris in Grand Forks County.

On Sunday, Oct. 1 at 11:30 p.m., Grand Forks police were dispatched to the area around the 1700 and 2300 blocks of 9th and 10th Avenues North. 

Police say the vandalism happened overnight Sunday into the early morning hours of Monday, October 2.

Investigators have identified 45 victims and accounted for approximately 83 slashed tires. The total damages to the vehicles is expected to top $17,000.

Rural Frazee woman charged with felony threats of violence

A rural Frazee woman was charged with felony threats of violence and misdemeanor disorderly conduct stemming from an August incident with a domestic partner where she allegedly told the man that she was going to shoot him.

On Aug. 25, emergency dispatchers received a report from a man who said 58-year-old Cheri Lee Mayberry of rural Frazee, with whom he had been living with for the past three years, threatened to shoot him while they were speaking by phone.

The man reportedly told Mayberry that she needed to find other living arrangements and she responded by saying, quote, “I’m going to shoot you between the … eyes,” before hanging up.

The man believed Mayberry had access to multiple firearms, thought the threat was credible and called law enforcement.

Mayberry was arrested and was released without bail under court ordered conditions on Aug. 28.

Her next court appearance is Oct. 16.

MN DNR warns drivers of more deer on, near roadways

The rut is still weeks away, but drivers have probably begun to notice more deer activity on Minnesota roadways.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Enforcement Lieutenant Mike Martin says the animal’s preparation for winter has started. 

Martin said, quote: “They’re trying to put weight on for the winter, so they’re actively feeding, especially in areas that have crops. Corn, beans are probably their favorites, but they’re still hitting green forage as well.”

He added it is similar to what you would see with squirrels and other animals, except a collision with a deer can cause significantly more damage to your vehicle.

Martin has some tips for motorists to avoid an accident with the animals. 

First, make sure drivers are scanning in the ditches for animals near the roadway

Slowing down is okay and use your brakes when you can. 

And, if you’re in agricultural areas, drivers just going to need to use extra vigilance while you’re out driving since ag roadways are located next to the animal’s major food sources.

Detroit Lakes City Council denies variance for couple’s taller-than-allowable separate garage

One Detroit Lakes couple is growing more frustrated with members of the city council who voted to deny their variance for an accessory structure larger than 14 feet tall during their meeting on Oct. 10.

Scott and Kelly Shank, who live on North Shore Drive, told members of the council their separate garage is in a state of disrepair and is too small to fit their large conversion van that they use to travel to and from Texas, where the spend their winters.

“The foundation is crumbling and the building needs to be replaced,” said Kelly Shank. “We have an asphalt driveway and parking area that takes quite a bit of our lot. So our plan was to remove all of the driveway and replace it with a shorter one that would actually give back 249 square feet. The reason for the height variance request is because we have a seven-and-a-half-foot tall conversion van that we use to drive back and forth from Texas … we’d need an eight-foot garage door for that. We currently have a seven-foot, so, obviously, the van can’t fit in there.”

The couple said they grew frustrated when the variance for their slightly larger accessory garage was recommended for approval by the city’s planning commission, however, a city staff report and city’s community development committee recommended denying the variance based on no practical hardship for the applicant and the feeling that more residents would want variances for taller structures, if the council approved the Shank’s permit.

Ron Zeman, alderman first ward, said he was concerned that the garage plans also included a bathroom and a bonus room for a possible art studio or exercise area. He also echoed that it would be a slippery slope if they approved the Shank’s variance since other residents would want the same treatment.

“In the current house you have, your house is only 1,300 square feet, so you’ve really increased it with the size of your garage and this bonus room,” said Zeman. “And the practical difficulty you have is you have this conversion van and you want to take (the garage) from 14 feet up to 16, 18 feet … and one of the concerns mine is that if we go ahead and allow this for you, we could having everybody in Detroit Lakes wanting to take their current garages and make them into bonus rooms.”

The Shank’s also said their neighbors both endorsed the garage replacement plan.

“Our neighbors both submitted recommendations for the garage,” said Shank. “So the people that are living around us really like the idea and they want to see improvements on North Shore Drive and they thought it was a great design.”

The chair of the city’s community development committee, Matt Boeke, alderman third ward, said he wants the height-limit policy to be addressed by the planning commission before they consider approving individual variances for projects.

“What I would like to see is a denial on this, not because I’m against the project, but because I think we need to look at that policy,” said Boeke. “If we could deny this now and look at getting this back to the planning commission to see if that 14 feet is actually where it needs to stay. Look at other communities. Is it 14 feet? Is it 16 feet? And really kind of dive into that to see if the 14 feet is still relevant, or not.”

The Shank’s permit was denied on a 7-1 vote with Aaron Dallmann voting to approve the variance.

The accessory structure height requirement policy is expected to be discussed by the Detroit Lakes Planning Commission on Oct. 26.

Fergus Falls looks into utility franchise fees to raise future street project funds

The City of Fergus Falls is looking into a potential 5% franchise fee on utilities, specifically gas and electricity, for its residents.

The franchise fee is related to utility companies’ use of public rights-of-way for utility lines and transmission, which is typically underground.

The proposed franchise fee will generate funds for street projects, but also introduce a unique funding mechanism for the city.

Utility companies operating in Fergus Falls, including Otter Tail Power Co., Lake Region Electric Co., and Great Plains Natural Gas Co., would be required to pay this fee to the city for their use of public rights-of-way.

To recover these costs, the utility companies would have the right to pass the franchise fees on to their customers, which will be listed on gas and electric bills as a “City Fee.”

The utility companies would then collect the franchise fees and remit them to the city.

It is anticipated that the proposed franchise fee would generate approximately $1.3 million annually, supplementing the existing budget for street projects.

Utility franchise fees would be applicable to all utility customers within the city.

This includes non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and government customers. 

For larger utility customers, a monthly cap of $1,000 per account per utility will be enforced.

While the concept of a franchise fee may be new to many Fergus Falls residents, nearly half of the cities in Minnesota have already implement similar fees.

Additionally, cable television subscribers in Fergus Falls currently pay a franchise fee that contributes to covering the cost of PEG Access.

Fergus Falls’ utility partners have experience working with other municipal customers who employ franchise fees, and they have expressed their commitment to collaborating with the city as they consider implementing the fees with a potential start date in March 2024.

To provide the public with more information, the presentation from the recent Fergus Falls Committee of the Whole meeting is available on the city’s website at bit.ly/FFFranchiseFees.

There will be an Open House scheduled for Thursday, October 26, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to discuss the issue. 

The City of Fergus Falls encourages its residents to learn more about the proposed franchise fees and its potential impact by attending.

Story by Zakk Daniels / KBRF

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