Ogema murder suspect charged over June killing in Pine Point

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – 41-year-old Michael Croud of Ogema has been charged in Becker County District Court with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from a June shooting death in Pine Point.

Croud reportedly walked up to a 2016 GMC Acadia that was parked outside a Pine Point residence on the evening of June 25, reached over the front passenger seat and shot 35-year-old David Wayne Hanks Jr. Of Park Rapids multiple times as he was sitting in the backseat of the Acadia.

Hanks was pronounced dead at the scene.

A nearby vehicle sped away from the scene following the shooting and witnesses said Croud shot at that vehicle as they drove away.

Investigators found a bullet hole in the witness’s vehicle door and found a bullet inside the vehicle.

Croud fled the scene following the shooting and remained on-the-run for about a month when he surrendered himself to the Los Angeles Police Department and was extradited back to Minnesota. 

Croud holds eight prior felony convictions, including violent crimes, such as, assault and burglary, that should have prevented him from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

His is currently in-custody at the Becker County Jail awaiting his next court appearance.

One injured, one arrested following Alexandria stabbing Sunday morning

One man was arrested following a stabbing in Alexandria early Sunday morning.

On Aug. 20 at 1:47 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a disturbance at the Viking Village Apartments on Aga Drive in Alexandria.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered a 30-year-old man had been stabbed and was transported to Alomere Health Hospital in Alexandria. His condition is currently unknown.

A short time later, 34-year-old Mohamed Jama of Alexandria was arrested in connection with the incident and is awaiting his first court appearance for charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of a legal process.

No weapon was recovered at the crime scene, according to law enforcement, and Alexandria Police Chief Scott Kent said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Applications open for DL Chamber’s 2023 Splash Awards

Applications and nominations are open for the 2023 Splash Awards, which honors lakes area volunteers and individuals that have made a community impact over the last year.

Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce President Carrie Johnston said the awards are a way to showcase all of the people, businesses, and nonprofits who go the extra-mile and who may prefer to remain behind the scenes and out of the limelight.

“It’s our way as the chamber of commerce to honor people who volunteer, who give back, and do so much extra for our community,” said Johnston. “I think most people would agree, this region, this community, we’re a little unique. We really, really do value our volunteers and people that give their time, and their resources. We really have a great philanthropic community and we want to give a little recognition because sometimes they are behind the scenes.”

There are seven different Splash Awards up for grabs this year, including four awards for individuals who exhibit exceptional volunteerism, motivational skills, leadership and involvement. Three awards will be given for businesses or organizations that set an example for others, show a consistent community commitment and engagement.

If you would like to nominate a person, business, or organization for a 2023 Splash Award, applications can be found on the DL Chamber Facebook page or website.

Johnston also said, if you haven’t attended a Splash Awards in person, it’s a unique and positive-energy experience.

“That room is just filled with energy and people that have such big hearts and are really excited to continue to help the community, but also cheer each other on, on each other’s volunteerism,” she said. “When you see somebody who gives hours and hours sit next to somebody else who’s giving hours and hours, it’s just such a positive energy in that room.”

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 5 with the 2023 Splash Awards presentation to be held at the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes on Oct. 5.

Attorney General Marrick Garland visit Fargo, meets with Wallin’s fiancé and Officer Robinson

Attorney General Merrick Garland made a stop in Fargo, about a month after police officer Jake Wallin was shot and killed by a heavily armed man who may have been planning a much larger scale shooting.  Garland spoke during a meeting with local and state law enforcement, prosecutors and others in a jury room at the U.S. district courthouse in Fargo. 

“We also recognize just how much is being asked every single day of the officers,” said Garland. “Their jobs are difficult. We now see how dangerous they are. They demand enormous sacrifices from both the officers and their families. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to provide law enforcement with the support they need and deserve.”

Garland also met with the fiance of Officer Wallin. He says there are no words to describe the sorrow and pain she’s endured. 

He then met with Fargo Police Officer Zach Robinson who shot and killed the man who ambushed Wallin when he and other officers responded to a traffic crash last month. 

 “I told him that the courage he exhibited under fire was nothing short of amazing,” he said. “And as everyone knows here, he saved the community from what everyone knows could have been a catastrophic result. I told him how proud I was of him, how proud the entire country is of him. There are not many body cams that everybody in the country sees, and this one, I think everybody did see.”

Garland pledged to local and state leaders the continued and unwavering support from the U.S. Justice Department.  

St. Cloud State eliminates theatre department; last theatre major degrees to be issued in the spring

St. Cloud State is cutting its theatre department and incoming students will no longer be able to select the field of study as a major.

The announcement comes after St. Cloud State University President Robbyn Wacker said the school is facing a $24 million shortfall over the next year this past April. 

She also said the university is down about 6,000 students since 2010, which represents a 38 percent decrease in enrollment.

The lower enrollment was cited as the reason for cutting the department.

Current theatre students near the completion of their degree are being offered a teach-out year, so they will be able to take all of their remaining theatre classes for their major in a single school year. Many are expected to graduate in the spring.

Otter Tail County builds device to combat beaver dams in drainage ditches

Otter Tail County’s Ditch and Drainage Systems team had a recurring problem: beavers continued to build dams that blocked the drainage ditches. 

The Otter Tail County’s Drainage Inspector Colby Palmersheim said he was determined to find an innovative solution, so he built one: a Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler.

According to the South Carolina Department of Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife, the Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler was developed to mitigate flooding while allowing the beavers to exist in their natural habitat.

Getting rid of the dams had been costing hundreds of dollars to remove per dam, Palmersheim said, but the pond leveler limits the flowable water that is detected by beavers, which results in fewer dams being constructed.

Palmersheim said: “With this device, the beavers should be able to continue to live in their habitat, and the idea is that they can’t figure out how the water is draining through the dam and will hopefully make the best of it, and we won’t need to focus so much time and money on this area.”

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has tested the Clemson-designed leveler and “determined it can effectively reduce flooding in certain situations, such as a beaver dam built in a culvert or a dam constructed at the outlet of a small pond. Once installed, the leveler is virtually maintenance-free.” 

He added the leveler cost about $1,500 to make and about 10 hours to install, but, if the device prevents two beaver dams that would have otherwise been created, it will have already paid for itself

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