Cass County Sheriff's Office
Press Release

Press Release #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01-03-12
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

Cass County Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Initiative
Sponsors 6th Annual Chaplaincy Training

The 6th Annual Chaplaincy Training will be held at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Longville on Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 9 AM to 3 PM. Sheriff Tom Burch encourages interested Clergy Members and Law Enforcement Personnel to attend this annual training that is hosted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Initiative.

There will be death notification training from Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll and Nancy Johnson from Minnesotans for Safe Driving in the morning. In the afternoon, Shannon Pfeiffer from Cass County Victim Services and Chris Swenson from Family Safety Network will address the subject of domestic abuse and the services available.

There is no charge for this training; however, a free-will donation will be accepted the day of the event. To find out more about this training or to sign up, you can contact Pauline Fahey at 218-547-7308 or Pauline.fahey@co.cass.mn.us.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Initiative began in 2006 with a core group of dedicated clergy members and law enforcement personnel from all areas of Cass County. The purpose of the Chaplaincy Initiative is to provide networking and collaboration between law enforcement and clergy members in identifying needs and providing advocacy, support and assistance to members of the community and staff, as needed. The chaplains are here to serve community members in times of crisis situations. They are not intended, nor do they wish, to replace an individual’s clergyperson. All chaplains serve at the discretion of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and are fortunate to have the support and encouragement of Sheriff Tom Burch in providing guidance, counseling and comfort in times of crisis to the people of Cass County.

Over the years, we have had new chaplains join and treasured Chaplains move out of Cass County; however, one constant remains – dedicated chaplains with a calling to provide assistance in crisis situations. If you want to learn more about our Chaplaincy Initiative and find out if this program is for you, please consider attending this training and taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more and meet Chaplains and law enforcement involved with this program.

Press Release #2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01-10-12
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

House Fire Results in the Arrest of Akeley Man

Pine River MN

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 8, 2012, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a house fire in the Chickamaw Beach area. Cass Co Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Pine River Police Officers, Pine River Fire Department and Pequot Lakes Fire Department responded to the scene. No one was injured in the fire. Subsequent investigation by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Pine River Police Department and the State Fire Marshall’s Office led to the arrest of Brandon Todd Sannan,
age 22, of Akeley for his involvement in this occupied dwelling fire. Brandon remains in custody pending formal charges. The investigation continues.


Press Release #3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11-25-11
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

Helicopter Crashes into Ten Mile Lake

Hackensack MN

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that on November 24th at approximately 7 PM, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from the passenger of a helicopter that crashed into Ten Mile Lake in Hiram Township. The passenger was able to get to shore; the pilot and helicopter are still missing. Cass Co Sheriff’s Office Deputies, State Patrol, Walker Police Officers, MN DNR Conservation Officers, Leech Lake Tribal Officers, Leech Lake Conservation Officers, Hackensack Fire and Rescue, Hackensack First Responders and North Ambulance responded to the scene. The search for the pilot and the helicopter continues.

Update 11-26-11

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that the body of the helicopter pilot, John Zacher, age 56 of Hackensack, was recovered on Friday, November 25th. The body was recovered outside of the helicopter approximately 150 feet from shore and in approximately 30 feet of water. An autopsy is pending. The passenger of the crash, Vicki Zacher, age 55, was able to swim to shore and was treated for hypothermia. The incident remains under investigation by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Press Release #4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11-07-11
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

Hunting Incident Results in Death of Sartell Man

Outing MN

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that in the early morning hours of November 6th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing hunter in Beulah Township in the Outing area. Cass County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, MN DNR Conservation Officers and volunteers began a search of the area. At approximately 10 AM, the victim, a 51-year-old Sartell man, was found deceased near his deer stand. It appeared the victim had fallen from his deer stand, causing an accidental discharge of his firearm resulting in a fatal gunshot wound. The incident remains under investigation pending autopsy results from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The name is being withheld pending notification of family members.

Press Release #5

PRESS RELEASE

NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9th 2011 at 1:00 PM

On November 9, 2011 at 1:00 PM, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.

The testing will look at the readiness and effectiveness of the system as it exists today. The goal is to make the system more effective at delivering critical information in a timely manner and to explore other technologies and there possible use for this delivery.

During the test, listeners will hear a message indicating that “This is a test.” Although the EAS Test may resemble the periodic, monthly test that most of us are familiar with, there will be some differences in what people will see and hear. The audio message will be the same for all EAS participants; however, due to the limitations in the EAS, the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that “This Is a Test.” This is due to the fact that they will be using a live code - the same code that would be used in an actual emergency. The text at the top of your television screen may indicate that an Emergency Action Notification has been issued.

The test will last for approximately three minutes; however, this could vary across the country. While the State and local EAS messages are limited to 2 minutes, there is no time limit for national EAS alerts. To be able to evaluate whether the system properly interprets a national message in the national EAS test, the message must be longer than 2 minutes.

The November 9 date was chosen because it is near the end of the hurricane season and before the severe winter weather season. The 1:00 PM broadcast time will minimize disruption during busy hours, while ensuring that the test can occur during normal business hours.

This is a nationwide test and will run simultaneously on all broadcast media and will last for at least three minutes. Since you will not be able to escape the message by tuning to another station and the test is longer than a local EAS test, FEMA and other agencies including the Cass County Sheriff’s Office are anticipating some listeners will be concerned and want to contact the local authorities and possibly load up the 911 call system. Please pass this information along to your friends and family.

If any questions or concerns please contact Kerry Swenson, Cass County Emergency Management at 218-547-7437 or kerry.swenson@co.cass.mn.us.

Press Release #6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 07-26-11
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

One Drowning Victim Found on Cass Lake; One victim still missing

Cass Lake MN

On July 25, 2011 at approximately 7:00 PM, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a boat circling on Cass Lake. Officers from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Pike Bay Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Conservation Officers and the Lakes Area Dive Team responded to the scene. One body was located shortly thereafter. The victim was a 70-year-old man from Denmar, Wisconsin. The second party in the boat, 52-year-old man from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is still missing. The search continues for the second victim. Identity of the victims is being withheld pending notification of family members.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Leech Lake Tribal Police, Pike Bay Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Conservation Officers, DNR Conservation Officers, Border Patrol and the Lakes Area Dive Team.

Press Release #7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06-28-11
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

Shooting Results in Death of 63 Year Old Backus Man

Backus MN

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that Cass County authorities responded to a report of a shooting in Ponto Township at 11:18 AM today. Officers arrived on scene and located a victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was a 63-year-old Backus man. Officers took a 73-year-old male suspect into custody. The suspect is currently being held in the Cass County Detention Center pending formal charges. Officers from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Pine River Police Department, MN State Patrol and the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension responded to the incident. Sheriff Tom Burch reports the incident remains under investigation with an autopsy pending. Both names are being withheld pending notification of family members.

06-29-11 Update:
The victim has been identified as Christian David Kruckow, age 63, of Backus. The suspect, Rolland Fred Kruckow, age 73, is the brother of the victim and remains in custody at the Cass County Detention Center.

Press Release #8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06-26-11
Contact: Tom Burch, Sheriff
218-547-1424 or 1-800-450-2677 * Fax: 218-547-3394

Shooting Results in Death of Cass Lake Woman

Cass Lake MN

Sheriff Tom Burch reports that Cass County authorities responded to a report of a shooting in the Cass Lake area at 3:16 AM this morning. Upon their arrival, a 22-year-old female was found to be deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The suspect, Ross Songegahbow Littlewolf, age 27, of Cass Lake was taken into custody by Leech Lake Tribal Police Officers in connection with the shooting. Littlewolf is currently being held in the Cass County Jail pending formal charges. Officers from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Pike Bay Police Department and the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension responded to the incident. Sheriff Tom Burch reports the incident remains under investigation with an autopsy pending. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family members.