Posted: 1/11/05
Stemper pleads not guilty to obstruction of officer
James Stemper, the Caledonia Police Officer who is facing charges in Wisconsin of obstructing a police officer, has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Stemper made an appearance in Buffalo County Court Wednesday, January 6 with his attorney, Michael Devanie.
According to the complaint, two motorcycles were pursued for speeding and noise violations from Winona County into Buffalo County, Wisconsin, on September 11. The drivers of both cycles fled on foot from the parking lot of Georgeís Lounge, Bluff Siding.
One of the drivers, Mitchell Dworschak, 38, was picked up by police in Buffalo County. He later told police that Stemper, who was the registered owner of the second cycle, was driving the cycle that night.
Stemper has denied that he was the driver, and said he had loaned the motorcycle to a man named ěJinglesî who was interested in buying it. The officer investigating the case said the information Stemper gave him is inconsistent with the information authorities were able to gather on the incident, and that he deliberately obstructed the investigation.
Stemper remains on paid administrative leave from his job in Caledonia. A court conference is set for February 2.
Stemper was fined for reckless driving in the same incident.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com