MARSHALL -- A man wanted in Ramsey County on a second-degree murder charge is in jail after being arrested on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. 20-year-old Tyrese Alonzo Johnson was taken into custody on the SMSU campus by agents from the Brown-Lyon-Redwood-Renville Drug Task Force and the Marshall Police Department.   The criminal complaint alleges Johnson fired a gun at an occupied vehicle in a St. Paul parking lot in April. According to the complaint, one person was wounded in the face, and another was also received a minor bullet wound. Johnson also had an active arrest warrant for drug charges [...]

MARSHALL -- The City of Marshall announced in a press release that absentee voting begins on Friday, September 22nd. There will be one question that is a "Yes" or "No" to extend the existing sales tax to fund the construction of a proposed aquatic center. Absentee ballots are available on the 2nd Floor of City Hall at the City Clerk’s Office or a ballot can be requested online at mnvotes.org  Voters will need to fill out an Absentee Application to receive a ballot. Ballots can be completed at City Hall and immediately returned, or voters can take their ballot home and [...]

BIRD ISLAND -- The Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a residential fire in the 900 block of 4th Street South on Monday at approximately 6:40 PM in Bird Island. Emergency crews located the fire and found the garage was fully engulfed in flames.  Emergency crews were able to contain the fire in the garage.  However, firefighters were called out to the residence again early Tuesday morning around 4:00 am because the fire had reignited.  The residence had significant damage and was deemed a total loss.   Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire started in the garage and spread throughout [...]

MORTON – A New Ulm man has died following a one-vehicle rollover accident in Renville County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 10:05 Tuesday evening, a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling westbound on Highway 19 in Morton when it ran off the road and rolled in the area of Brook Drive.   The driver of the Volkswagen, a 36-year-old man from New Ulm died in the crash. The identity of the man is being withheld until family are notified.   Assistance was provided by the Renville County Sheriff’s Office, Morton Fire and CentraCare Ambulance.  

MONTEVIDEO -- The Montevideo Police Department has opened up an investigation after the body of a man with a stab wound was found this (Monday) morning. According to the Montevideo Police Department, the body was found by a postal worker at 6:30 Monday morning in a grassy area next to the post office parking lot in the 300 block of 1st Street. There is no known threat to the public, according to the Montevideo Police Department. The name of the victim will be released once family is notified. The Montevideo Police Department notes they are in the early stages of the [...]

SLAYTON – A Murray County Central 5th grade teacher is facing six charges of sexual misconduct with a child under 14, and two counts of witness tampering, according to a criminal complaint. The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred September 6th, 2022 through April 19th, 2023.   According to court documents, on April 20th, the superintendent of Murray County Central called Slayton police about a report of alleged inappropriate touching of students by 5th grade teacher, Nathan Wieneke.   After investigating and interviewing witnesses, charges were filed against Wieneke. According to court documents, the allegations include rubbing their backs and [...]

OLIVIA -- A Montevideo woman has pleaded guilty to 3rd degree murder in Renville County.  On Wednesday, 21-year-old Deja Padilla of Montevideo, pleaded guilty to Murder in the Third Degree for the death of 23-year-old Alexis Nicole Labatte on November 13th, 2021.  At the plea hearing, Padilla admitted to traveling to Labatte’s home to sell her fentanyl, which then led to her death. According to the complaint, Renville County dispatch received a 911 call shortly after midnight on November 13, 2021 about an overdose at a residence in the City of Renville. The caller reported that there was an unconscious female [...]

SLEEPY EYE – A man suspected of shooting a police officer in northern Iowa Wednesday night is now in custody in Brown County. Sheriff's deputies say the 43-year-old man was arrested without incident late last night near Sleepy Eye. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says the suspect shot an officer in Algona around 8 o'clock and was apprehended about four hours later. Brown County Jail Records show 43-year-old Kyle Lou Ricke was booked into jail at 4:12 this morning. There's no word on the officer's current condition.

ADRIAN – A Jackson woman was injured in a one-vehicle incident on Interstate 90 in Nobles County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 12:19 Tuesday afternoon, a 2018 Buick Encore was traveling westbound on I-90 when a tire blew out causing the vehicle to lose control and strike the median barrier.  The driver of the Buick, 74-year-old Carol Jean Cookinham of Jackson, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Worthington hospital.   Assistance was provided by the Adrian Police Department, Adrian Fire Department, and Adrian Ambulance.  

MARSHALL – A Tyler man is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop Sunday evening in Marshall, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. At approximately 8:02 Sunday evening, deputies performed a traffic stop near the intersection of South Saratoga Street and State Highway 23 in Marshall. After investigating, a 50-year-old Tyler man was arrested and is facing charges including DWI, driving after cancellation, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving an uninsured motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, and transporting a loaded firearm.