ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — National Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Horst will be laid to rest on Tuesday at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, but there will be no grieving widow at the funeral.

Sgt. Horst’s wife will sit in jail, now charged with plotting his murder.

In the hours after finding her husband shot to death last week, police found Heather Horst’s behavior strange.

An officer noted, “she never cried once and sounded as if she was trying to force emotion,” as she told relatives about the murder.

She told investigators, she was away at a Walgreen’s with a friend when her husband was killed.

But that friend is now providing damaging information, not only about Heather Horst, but also her own fiancee — the other suspect in the case, Aaron Allen.

She said Heather Horst told them both last week that she and her husband had been “arguing a lot over the past few days.” She quoted Heather Horst as saying, “I want him dead.”

Later that night, the criminal complaint states “she left the gun for Allen on the dining room table,” and he used it on Brandon Horst as he slept.

The gun was later found three miles away, at a disc golf course in South St. Paul.

Investigators say Heather Horst stood to collect $480,000 from two life insurance policies.

Two neighbors of Allen say they find it hard to believe he could be involved in something like this.

“Oh yeah, I live right here,” said Henry Barnes. “My kids walk past him, my son, my daughter, my neighbors.”

“To me, he would not kill a fly,” said Donald Rousseau. “I mean honestly, I don’t think he could hurt anybody.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 29-year-old Shorewood woman has been charged with allegedly murdering her estranged boyfriend and hiding his body in a newly purchased freezer in her garage.

On Monday afternoon, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced that Jetaun Helen Wheeler has been charged with second-degree intentional murder.

According to the criminal complaint, Wheeler’s 58-year-old boyfriend had been missing for two weeks before family members called police, who later found the victim’s body in a freezer in Wheeler’s garage.

The name of the victim, who is originally from Chicago, has not yet been released. According to the criminal complaint, he had told friends and relatives that he was leaving Wheeler because she has “assaulted him and had been acting crazy.”

Relatives expected him to arrive back in Chicago in early August, but when he did not come back, family members went to the home looking for him. Wheeler told them he had in fact returned to Chicago.

When police arrived to execute a search warrant, police discovered two pieces of carpeting rolled up under Wheeler’s mattress. One piece was soaked with a blood-like substance, the complaint said.

The possible blood splatter drew the investigator’s attention to the garage, where they found a brand new freezer concealed behind two mattresses. Inside, the victim’s body was discovered wrapped in plastic and frozen, according to the criminal complaint.

“It was a big trunk freezer,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said at a press conference Monday. “He was duct-taped and had been there for a while, although we can’t tell exactly how long.”

Police also found several bags of clothing and shoes – with blood-like stains — in garbage bags concealed beneath the kitchen microwave.

Investigators also found a broken closet rod on the floor of a closet. It was broken in two and tested positive for the presence of blood. The closet rod in Wheeler’s bedroom was missing.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says an autopsy on Saturday revealed he had blunt force trauma injuries to his face and head, including significant lacerations to his left eye and the left side of his head. He also had contusions to both of his upper arms, defensive wounds to the back of his hands and hemorrhaging in the muscles of his neck.

The medical examiner is waiting on toxicology and microscopic examination and testing before determining the exact cause of death, but homicide is the tentative conclusion.

Police say at the time of the murder, Wheeler’s three young children were living with her, but they have now disappeared. Authorities believe Wheeler hid the children so they cannot be taken into protective custody.

If convicted of her charge, Wheeler could face up to 40 years in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 26-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing last Wednesday, according to police.

Authorities say Yolanda Lynn Smith, address unknown, was identified as a possible suspect after witnesses said she fled the crime scene.

Police found the victim bleeding from multiple stab wounds in the area of 5th Avenue South and Lake Street East on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The woman was taken to the hospital, where she later died.

Witnesses told police Smith left the area on foot but officers were unable to find her. A witness said she saw the victim and Smith in an argument that became physical.

The witness told police she saw the two wrestling and then saw the suspect pull out a large folding-style hunting knife. According to the witness, the suspect stabbed the woman multiple times and walked away. The witness then called 911.

Police say the searched for Smith and eventually found her on Sunday. Officers approached her near West River Road and Lake Street, but Smith fled into a heavily wooded area between the parkway and the Mississippi River.

During a search of the area, officers located Smith hiding in some bushes. She was placed under arrest.

Smith later admitted to police that she stabbed the victim. She is currently in custody.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 34-year-old St. Paul man has been charged with allegedly fleeing police after a traffic stop and crashing into another car, killing one of the occupants and seriously hurting another, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Authorities said the crash happened just before 1 a.m. Monday on 4th Street SE and Central Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.

The State Patrol said a trooper initiated a traffic stop on a white 1997 Nissan Maxima for speeding and suspicion of drunk driving. After initially stopping, the driver waited until the trooper approached his vehicle before fleeing the scene through Minneapolis.

The trooper tried at least four times to use a pit maneuver to end the chase.

The suspected drunk driver, identified by authorities Her, crashed into a black 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue at 4th Street and Central Avenue after an approximately three-minute chase.

That vehicle’s driver was killed in the crash. Authorities said Her suffered non-life threatening injuries.

According to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Her’s blood alcohol content registered .16, which is twice the legal limit for driving. He was also driving on a suspended license because of several previous driving offenses, including a DWI.

The victim was identified by authorities as 20-year-old Brody A. Sotona of Spring Valley, Wis. His passenger was 24-year-old Connor Macklin of Stillwater. Macklin was listed in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center as of noon Monday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office announced that Her was charged with two felony counts of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle with injury or death.

Her remains in custody in the Hennepin County Jail on a $500,000 bail.

If convicted, he faces up to 47 years in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The man arrested in connection with the double homicide in Granite Falls, Minn., has now been charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

According to the charges, Andrew Joseph Dikken, 28, is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Kara Ann Monson, and her boyfriend Christopher Allen Panitzke, 28, on Sept. 2.

Monson died at the scene. Panitzke was transported to the Granite Falls Hospital, then airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center where died on Sept. 8.

Yellow Medicine County Sheriff Bill Flaten called the killings “cold blooded.”

Authorities say officers were called to the scene around 3:28 a.m. on Sept. 2 on a report of a shooting on the 1100 block of Prentice Street. Dispatch had received a 911 call from a man, later identified as Panitzke, who said he and his girlfriend had been shot.

When officers arrived on scene, they found Panitzke lying on the floor with a towel wrapped around his arm. There was blood surrounding him but he was conscious at the time.

Panitzke told police he and Monson were sleeping in bed when someone entered the house and started shooting at them. They both suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

When police asked him who shot them, he said “Andy” Dikken. Panitzke then told police that Monson was still in the bedroom.

An officer went to check on Monson and found she was already dead.

At the hospital, Panitzke told officers that Dikken turned the lights on, fired multiple shots and then did not appear to be in any hurry to leave. Panitzke said he could hear Dikken walking around the house.

Investigators learned that Dikken was possibly driving a brown 1996 GMC pickup truck with a topper. A truck matching that description was later found in Redwood County.

Dikken was also seen on video camera in Casey’s Convenience Store several minutes after the initial 911 call was placed. Casey’s is about three blocks from the residence where the shooting took place.

Officials secured the pickup truck and later recovered a gun case that matched the description of the stolen one.

Police interviewed a person related to Dikken who said a gun they owned had been stolen from their house without permission. The caliber of the gun matched caliber of the shell casings and the bullets of the one used in the shooting.

They also discovered text messages from Dikken to Monson within hours of the shooting. Investigators say a threatening message was sent to one of Monson’s family members that indicated that Dikken was threatening Monson’s life.

Dikken was missing for more than two weeks after Monson and Panitzke were shot. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on Sept. 11. The families of the victims suffered many sleepless nights knowing the person who shot their loved ones was still on the loose.

“It’s a family’s worst nightmare,” said Eric Monson, Kara’s brother.

He added Wednesday that Dikken’s actions have rendered him “inconsequential” to the Monson family.

“We’re prepared,” he said, speaking of the court process. “We’re prepared to carry this out for Kara.”

Patrice Monson, Kara Monson’s mother, said her daughter was “a very loving person who touched many peoples’ lives.” It’s her wish that justice is served, so that the families — and Kara’s 4-year-old daughter — can grieve in peace.

Dikken is being held at the Yellow Medicine County Jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 52-year-old man accused of dragging one of two victims, both Army recruiters, in a hit-and-run incident is now charged for the crime.

Enrico Darius Taylor, of Minneapolis, was charged with three counts of criminal vehicular operation in connection with the hit-and-run on Tuesday.

According to the charges, Taylor allegedly dragged one of the recruiters for nearly a mile before the victim was able to free himself from the vehicle.

That victim, identified as 42-year-old Travis Torgerson, of Circle Pines, suffered a broken leg, tailbone and ribs, along with numerous abrasions to his tailbone and lower back. The injuries will require several skin grafts to fully heal, according to authorities.

The other victim, 29-year-old Michael Stroud, of Brooklyn Center, was tossed into the air and landed about 15 feet away. He spoke to WCCO on Wednesday about the experience, describing it as a terrifying incident watching his partner being dragged.

According to the complaint, police were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday regarding two pedestrians who were struck by a Jeep near Roseville Shopping Center.

Stroud told officers that he and Torgerson were in the crosswalk when a Jeep approached them, did not slow down and proceeded through the crosswalk at about 10-12 mph.

Two witnesses told officers they saw Torgerson hanging on to the rear bumper of the vehicle, screaming for help as the vehicle dragged him.

Police discovered that while Taylor was allegedly dragging Torgerson, Taylor left his vehicle twice, saw Torgerson underneath and began kicking him to try and free him from his Jeep. After an unsuccessful attempt, Taylor got back into his vehicle and continued to drive with Torgerson stuck underneath, while running stop signs and stop lights.

As Taylor turned southbound on Prior Avenue, Torgerson was able to free himself from the vehicle. Taylor continued to drive away, according to the charges.

Officers later located the unoccupied vehicle in a Motel 6 parking lot in Roseville. Motel staff called police after Taylor asked them to call him a cab and they noticed he was acting unusual.

Taylor then fled the motel and was arrested in a nearby auto dealership.

In an interview with police, Taylor initially denied driving the Jeep or being involved in the incident whatsoever. He told police he was meeting someone at the Motel 6.

When he was told a witness identified him as the driver, Taylor said he wanted to speak to his attorney and had nothing more to say. About 10 minutes later, he told officers he wanted to speak to them.

He said he was concerned about the man he hit.

“I freaked out because my license is suspended. I turned the corner coming up the hill. I got a contact in, the light blinded me, I didn’t see him, he stepped in front of me, it was too late,” he told officers, according to the complaint.

He said he didn’t target the men and that he hit them by accident.

When investigators told Taylor he dragged the man all the way to County Road B and Prior Avenue, he began to cry.

He said the vehicle he was driving didn’t have insurance and his license was revoked for fleeing police in a separate incident.

Taylor then told officers he used cocaine on Sunday and drank vodka and beer on Monday. He denied taking any illegal narcotics or consuming alcohol on the day of the hit-and-run.

Taylor has an extensive criminal history, ranging from check forgery, fleeing police and theft by swindle.

“This defendant displayed a blatant disregard for the life of both victims and he is clearly a threat to our community,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi in a press release. “We will seek to hold the defendant accountable for his actions and pursue justice for the victims and our community.”

Taylor will make his first court appearance on Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Two Willmar teens have been indicted in the death of a 79-year-old woman.

Brok Nathaniel Junkermeier, 19, and Robert Innocencio Warwick, 18, were each indicted with two charges — first-degree premeditated murder, and first-degree murder while committing burglary.

Warwick is the grandson of Lila Warwick, who was found dead in her Willmar home back in July after being strangled and stabbed.

According to the criminal complaint, the two men — and a third teenager — planned to kill Lila and taker her money.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Charges have been filed against two teens accused of being involved in the death of an Annandale man over the weekend.

Annandale Police discovered the body of 42-year-old Kyle Greene Saturday. Police say it was determined that he died after being shot by a shotgun.

On Sunday, 19-year-old Tyler Fisher and 19-year-old Samara Juhl, both of Annandale, were arrested in connection to the death.

At the Wright County Courthouse in Buffalo, Fisher was charged with second-degree aid and abet murder without intent, second-degree aid and abet murder without intent while committing a felony, first-degree aid and abet aggravated robbery and aiding an offender (accomplice after the fact) – all felonies.

Suhl was charged with first-degree aid and abet aggravated robbery and aiding an offender (accomplice after the fact), which are both felonies.

According to the criminal complaint, after investigating Greene’s death, information was produced suggesting that Greene sold methamphetamine and was known to carry a large amount of cash in his wallet.

According to a juvenile who knew the suspects, Fisher and two other male suspects from St. Cloud were talking about robbing a drug dealer in Annandale who was bragging about having a large amount of drugs and cash. The juvenile added that Juhl’s cellphone was used to contact Greene to set up a drug deal to facilitate the robbery, the complaint said.

When they were arrested, both Juhl and Fisher admitted to knowing about the robbery and murder, but said that three other suspects actually entered the house and shot Greene. Fisher was the getaway driver, according to the complaint.

Fisher initially refused to give the names of the other three suspects, but was later able to identify the three suspects from separate photographic lineups.

If convicted, both could face potential maximum sentences of more than 20 years in prison.

For more information, read the entire criminal complaints below:

Samara Juhl
Tyler Fisher

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 21-year-old community college student has been charged in the fatal shooting from early Saturday morning outside a Minneapolis bar, according to the Hennepin County Attorney.

Cedric Chappell, Jr., who lived in south Minneapolis but went to school in North Dakota, was charged with second-degree murder Wednesday in the fatal shooting of Willie James Smith III, 22, of St. Paul.

Chappell was also charged with attempted second-degree murder for shooting at another man in the incident, who was injured.

Police were called around 2 a.m. Saturday to the Blue Nile Nightclub in Minneapolis, after a fight broke out at the bar, located at 2027 E. Franklin Ave.

The fight spilled out into the parking lot where the shooting took place.

According to a criminal complaint, two groups outside the bar began shooting at each other. During the shootout, Chappell shot Smith in the chest and shot the other man in the leg, according to the charges.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and the other man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

(credit: Ramsey County)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – One man has been charged in connection with an incident earlier this week wherein a woman was held down and urinated on as a number of men wearing wigs surrounded her in St. Paul.

The incident happened on Monday evening, police said. A 31-year-old woman said she was standing near the 500 block of Farrington Avenue when a vehicle pulled up next to her. There were four men inside, all wearing wigs.

The complaint says that one of the men asked, “How do we get back to University Avenue?”

When she approached, the driver grabbed her and ripped her iPhone 4 from her hands. The complaint says the other men got out of the vehicle and pushed her to the sidewalk next to a building nearby.

According to the charges, one of the men pulled her by her hair and urinated on her after the others had pulled her pants down.

The victim told police she feared she would be raped, but they all laughed after one of them urinated on her. She said they left after one of them asked, “You took that white b****’s phone?”

She sustained a cut on her wrist and a cut above her eye in the ordeal.

Police located the vehicle a few hours later. Investigators said there were a number of people inside the parked vehicle, which smelled strongly of marijuana.

The woman’s iPhone was located inside the vehicle, which the driver — 18-year-old Miklos Dates Jr. — said belonged to his aunt but was later discovered to have been a stolen Enterprise rental car.

Dates has been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Police have arrested a 42-year-old man in North Dakota in connection with a fatal shooting at a south Minneapolis bar.

Ron Christopher Powell, who was arrested in Fargo on Friday, is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and prohibited person in possession of a firearm in connection with the Aug. 8, 2013 incident.

According to police, on the day of the incident, they responded to Champions Bar on the 100 block of Lake Street at about 12:30 a.m. on a report of a shooting. Witnesses at the bar said it was full due to being ladies night and karaoke at the bar.

The assault victim, Anthony Orlando Collins, had previous altercations with Powell and was celebrating his birthday that night. When he saw Powell, he walked up to him and began punching him.

Powell then fell to the floor, pulled out a gun and fired three shots, according to police.

Mark Anthony Stephenson, who had no connection to Powell or Collins, was shot in the femoral artery and died later at the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Powell faces up to 40 years for the murder charge, 10 years for the assault charge and 15 years for the firearm charge.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 29-year-old private music teacher from Coon Rapids, Minn. was charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct last Wednesday.

According to the charges, Robert James Ladwig was teaching a private music lesson in an Eden Prairie home when the criminal sexual conduct occurred.

The charges state the victim, a 13-year-old boy, was touched inappropriately during in-home music lessons over a three-month period.

Police met with the boy’s father on June 28, who said he hired Ladwig for private flute lessons. He said on June 27, Ladwig was supposed to give his son a flute lesson from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., but when he arrived home at 4:30 p.m., he saw Ladwig’s car was still at their home.

He said he walked into the family room and Ladwig sitting very close to his son on the couch but as soon as they noticed him come in, they moved apart. Ladwig then asked for permission to stay a little longer to play video games with the boy, but his father denied the request and Ladwig left, according to the criminal complaint.

Later that evening, both parents talked to the boy about what was witnessed earlier that day. According to the complaint, the boy told them Ladwig would touch him inappropriately and make him feel uncomfortable.

In an interview with police, the boy told officers these type of incidents happened over the last three months, usually starting with a massage during his flute lesson.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says it’s common for children to hold back on speaking up.

“This is conduct the young person doesn’t want to have but doesn’t quite know what to do about it because it’s a person of authority,” Freeman said.

Police records indicate Ladwig was accused of a similar incident involving a female student in Eden Prairie. In that incident, he was accused of kissing the girl on the lips. He pleaded guilty in 2011 to disorderly conduct in the case and revealed to his ex-wife that he received counseling for his struggles with child pornography.

“Thankfully in this case it was stopped before more serious conduct was undertaken,” Freeman said. “Let’s listen to our kids and if our kids are acting a little different, let’s talk with them about what’s going on,” he said.

Eden Prairie Police is reminding parents about the importance of talking with children and asking detailed questions about what takes place when they’re in the supervision of another individual.

“Especially if there is some kind of sexual activity involved. The child once again feels dirty, feels bad, like they have done something wrong, so they will cower down and hide, not just out of embarrassment but because they are afraid,” police Sgt. Jaime Good said.

Anything suspicious should be reported to police.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 21-year-old man has been charged with striking and killing a pedestrian in Rogers in May, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Benjamin Witte faces two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide operation in connection to the May 25, 2013 incident.

Authorities say that an accident reconstruction indicates that Witte was traveling southbound on Rogers Drive when the vehicle drifted into the northbound lanes and struck a pedestrian. The adult male victim was traveling on the northbound shoulder of the road. He died from suffering severe head injuries.

A blood test revealed the presence of marijuana in Witte’s system at the time of the crash. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, including a glass pipe and plastic baggies at the scene of the crash.

“The driver of the vehicle admitted he smoked marijuana earlier in the day, and a blood test confirmed the drug was in his system. This type of behavior can have deadly consequences, and in this instance it did,” Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said.

Witte is currently not in custody and is scheduled to appear in court.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 22-year-old Farmington man has been charged with two counts of murder in connection to the Aug. 25 slaying of two men in South Minneapolis, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday.

Dijon Cordell Sanders faces second-degree intentional murder in the deaths of De’Von L. Burt, 18, and Keondray Q. Wilson, 20, both of Minneapolis. He also faces two counts of second-degree attempted murder for shooting at two others who survived.

According to the criminal complaint, at 8:30 p.m. on the day of the incident, witnesses saw two men running through the alley in the 2600 block of 18th Avenue South. Later, witnesses told police that one of the suspects may have been Fat Man Scoop, which is an alias for Sanders.

Witnesses also told police that the shooting may have been the result of a mistaken identity. The two men were going to shoot someone else who looks like the victim, Wilson, the complaint said.

Authorities say Burt was behind the wheel of a car and Wilson was in the seat behind him. According to the other two surviving passengers, the four of them had gone out to eat, done some shopping in Uptown and pulled into the alley when the two men approached and fired 33 shots.

Police have been looking for Sanders, who turned himself in over the weekend.

No charges have been filed against anyone else in this case.

Sanders’ first appearance is 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A Ramsey County jury found a 27-year-old Brooklyn Park man guilty on Friday in connection with a human sex trafficking operation that involved numerous victims — including women who were mentally slow or vulnerable — across multiple Minnesota communities.

Antonio Dion Washington-Davis was found guilty of three counts of second-degree promotion of prostitution, one count of first-degree solicitation to practice prostitution, one count of second-degree solicitation to practice prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

The jury will reconvene on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to decide aggravating factors in the case, and Washington will be sentenced on Dec. 19.

According to the complaint, the sex trafficking ring spanned nearly two years from September 2010 to July 2012.

Also charged in this case is Otis Deno Washington, 29, whose trial begins November 12, and Robert James Washington, 56 (another uncle of O. and A. Washington), who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree sex trafficking on July 12, 2013.

The defendant’s uncle, Calvin Roy Washington, pleaded to one count each of second-degree sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit second-degree sex trafficking on July 15, 2013.

Antonio and Otis allegedly took drastic measures to keep their victims in line, the complaint states.

In April 2011, Antonio brought one victim to a hotel in Ely, Minn., stating it was “somewhere where you can’t talk to any of your family and won’t know where you are.”

Another victim told investigators that both brothers “prey on young women who are mentally slow and/or vulnerable and recruit them into prostitution.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson has officially been charged with DWI, after being arrested Saturday on suspicion of drunken driving along Interstate 394. Despite those charges, it appears Simpson will suit up for the Vikings this weekend.

Simpson was charged with one count of fourth-degree DWI and one count of refusing to submit a chemical test, which is also a misdemeanor. Still, he could face prison time, if convicted, because of an incident two years ago.

According to the charges, a trooper was dispatched to a stalled vehicle that was blocking a lane on westbound I-394 out of downtown Minneapolis around 4:28 a.m. on Saturday.

The trooper located a Dodge Challenger with Kentucky license plates, which was stalled on the right shoulder of I-394 and 5th Street.

A man, later identified as 27-year-old Simpson, stepped out of the driver’s seat and walked towards the trooper, claiming he thought his rear axle was broken.

The trooper said while talking with Simpson he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and saw that he had bloodshot/watery eyes.

Simpson said he was at the Pour House downtown but denied having anything to drink.

He was then given the Horizontal Gaze test, which he failed.

Simpson was then asked to perform the Walk and Turn test, which he also failed.

Simpson performed a third and final test, the One Leg Stand test, and failed that, as well.

He was given a preliminary breath test, which registered a .095 BAC.

Simpson was then placed under arrest.

At 4:43 a.m., he was given a chance to contact an attorney. About half an hour later, he was asked to perform another breath test and refused.

When asked why, Simpson said his reason was “advice of my council.”

He was released from Hennepin County jail Saturday afternoon after posting a bond.

The Vikings gave Simpson a second change by picking him up as a free agent last season. Just months earlier, he had pleaded guilty to a felony. Drug agents traced a shipment of marijuana to his home in northern Kentucky. They found more than two pounds in the package, and even more inside his home.

As part of a plea agreement, Simpson was put on three years’ probation which reportedly included an agreement that he wouldn’t drink.

On Monday, Simpson addressed the issue and apologized — choosing his words carefully, not admitting to drinking.

“I apologize for the attention that I’ve brought with my team and myself,” Simpson said.

Simpson is the Vikings’ leading receiver this season, with more than 490 yards.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Simpson will likely play this weekend, but the team is consulting the NFL over possible discipline.

“There are some limits with what you can and can’t do,” Frazier said.

Across from the Dome, fans at Hubert’s were mixed on letting Simpson play.

“As much as you love the team, it probably sends a bad message,” said John Starinski.

Others said there’s more at play.

“I think more than anything in football, it’s a big business,” said Corey Yeager, of Eagan. “So it’s not necessarily a moral or ethical decision. It’s more of a business decision.”

It’s a union issue, too.

There’s specific wording in the players’ collective bargaining agreement about the substance abuse policy, and what teams can do in terms of discipline before the league has a chance to act.

Again, that’s something the Vikings are sorting through right now.

Simpson has a first court appearance scheduled in Minneapolis for Dec. 11. Between now and then, the Vikings will have played four more games.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Washington County man accused of killing two horses was released from jail Friday morning.

Authorities said they are still reviewing the case against William St. Sauver, Jr., adding that they are not able to charge him at this time.

The Scandia man was arrested Sunday on his family’s farm after he accused deer hunters of shooting and killing two mares. The next day deputies found St. Sauver on his tractor, trying to bury the dead horses in a nearby cornfield.

The mares are owned by Gloria Fritz of St. Paul.

Fritz said on Friday that an autopsy conducted by vets at the University of Minnesota shows the horses were shot in the head with a hand gun, not a hunting rifle. The autopsy also showed significant post-mortem rib fractures, indicating they had been run over by a tractor.

The horses’ owner said she’d asked St. Sauver’s parents to board her horses for a few months. She’d only recently met their son.

Back in August, William St. Sauver was charged with possession of an exotic animal after his pet alligators ended up in Goose Lake.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 37-year-old woman is charged with assault after authorities say she ran her husband’s new girlfriend off the road and beat her with an aluminum bat.

Beatriz Fernandez, of Lakeville, has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault in the Nov. 12 incident.

According to the charges, officers were called to the area of County Road 42 and Summit Ridge Circle in Burnsville, on a report of a woman assaulting another woman with a bat.

While responding, officers learned that the suspect, Fernandez, fled the area in her vehicle.

Investigators spoke with the victim on scene who said she was driving down County Road 42 when another vehicle, allegedly driven by Fernandez began to hit her. The victim said her male passenger, Fernandez’s husband, was able to run out of the vehicle but she was forced off the road by Fernandez.

When she exited the vehicle, she told officers Fernandez began to attack her with a bat, hitting her in the head.

An aluminum bat was located on the ground near the victim’s vehicle.

The victim was hospitalized with a fractured skull and abrasions on her knees, feet and hip in the incident.

According to investigators, the husband said he is married to Fernandez but moved out of the house and moved in with a friend about a month and a half ago. He said Fernandez said when she found out who he was messing around with, she would “f— them up.”

He told officers his girlfriend picked him up on Nov. 12 from the place he was staying in Farmington and when he got into the car, he noticed Fernandez driving towards them. He said she followed them and pulled up alongside their vehicle as they approached County Road 42. He said that’s when she struck their vehicle with hers on the left rear corner.

The husband told police Fernandez struck their vehicle three or four more times before the vehicle spun out.

Fernandez was located in her vehicle at the intersection of County Road 42 and 10th Avenue. Officers say an open bottle of wine, multiple pill bottles and a notebook with several suicidal messages was found in the vehicle.

According to the charges, Fernandez became lethargic while talking with officers and told them she took about 20 sleeping and 20 pain pills.

She was transported to Ridges Hospital.

If convicted, of both counts, Fernandez faces up to 17 years in prison and/or up to $34,000 in fines.

(credit: CBS)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Minneapolis Police raid at a gang-related house resulted in the arrest of four people and prevented a retaliation shooting, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

All four people are said to be affiliated with a violent street gang. Authorities say they were stashing guns and ammo to plan a retaliation for the death of one of their gang leaders.

Bridget Turntine, 33, Lamont McGee, 28, Veltrez Black, 25 and Ashimiyu Alowonle, 27, all of Minneapolis, have been charged in connection with the incident.

According to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, police heard from a witness earlier this month that the 19 Block Dip Set gang was storing illegal guns and ammunition at 3111 Girard Ave. N. where Turntine lived.

During the police raid on Dec. 12, officers seized seven guns and an “enormous” amount of ammunition. Two of the guns were stuffed into a diaper box located in the basement. Officers also recovered a large amount of cash and marijuana from the residence.

Police say three young children were in the home at the time of the raid, including two belonging to Turntine. Many of the guns were loaded when they were confiscated.

Turntine has been charged with two counts of child endangerment. Black, Alowonle and McGee were charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

Investigators said the north Minneapolis gang was storing the guns and ammunition so “they could retaliate against anyone they felt was responsible for the shooting death of their leader, Tyrone Washington,” according to a release.

Washington was shot and killed on Nov. 3 at Epic Nightclub.

Alowonle, Black and McGee have prior convictions for violent crimes, which makes it illegal for them to have firearms in their possession.

The previous charges range from aggravated robbery, third-degree assault and possessing controlled substances.

“These arrests and charges are a direct result of some excellent police work,” Freeman said in the release. “And it may well have saved lives. We must remain vigilant about guns in the hands of felons who have histories of gun violence.”

Bail was set at $150,000, with conditions, for Olowonde and Black. McGee’s bail was set at $250,000 and Turntine, who faces lesser charges, posted bail of $6,000.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 22-year-old man is charged with more than 20 counts of both criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation in a rollover crash that killed one person last November.

Authorities were dispatched at about 2:27 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2013 to the 300 block of Bernard Street in West St. Paul on a report of a crash in front of a house.

When officers arrived, they found debris all over the roadway and a man face down in the road.

The man was later identified as 21-year-old Robert Joseph Espinoza-Blaeser. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told police they woke up to a loud noise outside, went to the window and saw a white SUV stuck on the fence in their front yard. They said they saw the vehicle rocking in an attempt to get off the fence and once free, it left the scene driving east on Bernard Street East.

Police say Espinoza-Blaeser was ejected from the SUV and left in the road when officers arrived.

Officers later tracked down a severely damaged white Chevrolet Blazer parked in the driveway of a home on the 400 block of East Roeller Avenue. Authorities spoke with a 20-year-old man, with blood on his clothes, outside the home. The man, who police say was visibly upset, said he was not the driver but continued shouting, “He rolled my vehicle!”

When officers asked who he was talking about, he said Jon Devereaux was driving his Blazer at the time of the crash.

Officers found Devereaux, 22, of West St. Paul, at his apartment and brought him and the witness into custody.

The witness told police they had been drinking at a friend’s house and Devereaux was driving his car because he was too drunk (he said he had four or five shots within an hour and a half). He said Devereaux was messing around and rolled the wheel “very lightly” and flipped the car. He said they all rolled out of the vehicle, then he got into his car and drove it from the accident to his house. He said everyone else ran.

Devereaux initially told police he didn’t remember driving a vehicle, he only remembered leaving McDonald’s and then being at home.

Devereaux’s mother asked officers if she could speak to him but was only allowed to pass him a note. After Devereaux read the note, he told officers he wanted to tell the truth — and that what he said previously wasn’t the truth.

He told police he was driving the vehicle, lost control and the vehicle rolled over. He told police he had too much to drink and knows he shouldn’t have been driving.

Another witness, who was seated in the rear passenger’s side seat in the accident, told police Devereaux was drinking a beer and swaying all over the yard as they were heading to the vehicle. He said Devereaux demanded to drive. Once on the road, the witness told police Devereaux was going more than 60 mph and sped through a red light. He said he and others told him to slow down but he laughed and responded, “if the cops come, I’m runnin’.”

He said Devereaux started to weave from left to right using the entire roadway, continuing to laugh, when he lost control and the vehicle rolled over. The witness said his head broke a window, knocking him unconscious and when he came to, he heard Devereaux tell another victim, “Oh, my bad, you better not snitch.”

Investigators discovered that in total, eight occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The witness was treated at United Hospital for a fracture, head injury chest pain and a contusion to his leg. All other victims suffered lacerations, cuts, scrapes and bruises in the crash.

Police say Devereaux had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12 after a blood sample was taken around 6:39 a.m. on Nov. 14.

He is charged with 18 counts of criminal vehicle operation resulting in substantial bodily harm, including charges for being under the influence and for leaving the scene, and three counts of criminal vehicle homicide, including for negligence while under the influence of alcohol and for leaving the scene of the accident.