Caledonia Argus

Man charged with fleeing police officer

Posted: 7/23/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

A man accused of fleeing from police because he was driving without a valid driverís license is facing felony charges.

Jesse Scott Dulek, 18, Dakota, appeared in court Monday, July 15 and pled not guilty to the charges. The incident was alleged to have occurred on Thursday, June 27, 2002. An omnibus hearing was waived and a jury trial was requested.

According to the complaint, the incident occurred at 5:20 p.m. when La Crescent Police Officer Douglas Stavenau was driving east on CSAH 6, which was under construction for repaving. With him was La Crescent Police Officer Steve Husmann.

As Stavenau was driving, he recognized Dulek driving west on CSAH 6. Since he was aware that his license was under suspension, he turned around to pursue Dulek.

At that point, Stavenue said Dulek pulled into the eastbound lane to pass another vehicle and continued to accelerate rapidly. Stavenau activated his siren and lights and pursued Dulek. It was noted that while in the 40 mph zone, which was also under construction, Stavenau was only maintaining his distance at 80mph. He estimated that Dulek was driving between 90 to 100 mph.

He noted that as Dulek reached the end of the road construction near Town Hall Road, he failed to slow down for the posted ìBumpî where new pavement met the existing pavement. Dulekís car jumped violently as it hit the bump, swerved to the right of the roadway and swerved quickly back crossing into the eastbound lane of traffic.

As Dulek continued westbound, he encountered three cars ahead of him, one of which turned off the road. Dulek passed the other vehicles going an estimated 80mph.

Stavenau caught up with Dulek on some distance west of Pine Creek Road, approximately two miles from when the chase began. Stavenau turned on his public address system and ordered him to pull over to which he finally did.

Dulek was arrested and then released on a $1,000 signature bond on July 1.

A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Monday, September 23, at 1:30 a.m. and a jury trial was scheduled for Friday, October 25, at 9:00 a.m.

Man charged with sexual assault

Ronald K. Bernau, 43, of Houston, has been charged in Houston County District Court for second degree charges of criminal sexual conduct for engaging in sexual conduct with a person under 13 years of age.

The incident was reported in May of 2000 and said to have occurred in the summer of 1993 or 1994.

On Monday, July 15, Bernau entered a plea of not guilty, waived the omnibus hearing, and demanded a jury trial.

He is being represented by Attorney Ross Phelps.

The pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m. and the jury trial is set for Thursday, September 12, at 9 a.m.

Burglary Reported

A Caledonia man, Charles Albee of 103 East Hackney reported being the victim of a burglary.

He reported the burglary on Sunday, July 21.

No other information was available on the burglary pending a news release from the Caledonia Police Department.

Reports from Sheriffís office

Berdell Meiners of Cabbage Ridge Drive reported the vandalism of his mailbox on Sunday afternoon, July 21.

On Thursday, July 18, the Sheldon Sportsmanís Club reported that sometime within the past week, someone had shot a hole in the block of the Allis Chalmer C tractor that was located at the club.

On Friday, July 19, Gary Pellowski of Brownsville reported his ladder, chain saw and other items missing. The value of the items was not available.

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