Posted: 5/17/05
New Albin man charged with making terroristic threats
Terry Joseph Utke, 52, New Albin, Iowa, was charged in Third District Court on May 10 with making terroristic threats, a felony, and violation of harassment restraining order, a gross misdemeanor.
On May 9, Utke allegedly confronted a man who was reading an electrical meter on property, which adjoins Utkeís in Crooked Creek Township. Utke called him names, took pictures of him, and said he was ìgoing to kill him,î according to the criminal complaint.
The man, who had a restraining order on Utke, told sheriffís deputy Luke Sass that he was scared and that Utke was going to kill him.
Judge James Fabian released Utke on his own recognizance on May 10. He will appear in court on May 23 at 10:45 before Judge J. Terrence M. Walters. Utkeís attorney is Gregory Schultz, Caledonia.
Charges pending
In other police news, Caledonia Police Chief Randy Shefelbine said that a 17-year-old Wisconsin youth will soon be charged with felony theft and burglary related to an apartment burglary in Caledonia on April 17. Police recovered a 10 millimeter handgun in the burglary on May 5.
Charges are also pending against a 15-year-old juvenile who allegedly stole a camera at Caledonia High School on April 21, Shefelbine said. The camera, valued at $800, was recovered on April 25.
Goetzinger charged again
Joshua David Goetzinger is facing more auto theft charges in Mower County. The Caledonia youth allegedly stole a van from the Sheriffís Youth Ranch in Austin on May 8. Caledonia police found the vehicle in a shed in Caledonia that day. Goetzinger and a another juvenile returned to the ranch on their own the same day. Goetzinger was then arrested by Mower County deputies and taken to the Many Rivers Juvenile Detention Center. in Rochester. Goetzinger was serving a 120 day sentence at Sheriffís Youth Ranch after pleading guilty to two auto thefts in Caledonia.
Dog kills sheep
Sara Burfield of Black Hammer Township was issued a petty misdemeanor citation on April 21 for owning a dog that kills or pursues domestic animals.
Two Rottweilers that Burfield owned killed 11 sheep belonging to a neighbor, Robert Finnesgard that day, according to a sheriffís report.
The dogs killed three registered Hampshire breeding ewes and eight registered Hampshire lambs. The dogs injured nine additional sheep, some of which have since been put down.
The dogs were immediately classified as ìdangerous dogs,î which means they have to be kenneled and registered. The owner must also have a surety bond of $50,000 on each dog. Burfield told chief deputy Ken Frank that the dogs have since been destroyed.
The county needs to look at its dangerous dog laws, Frank told The Argus on May 12. People were concerned about walking past the Burfield farm, he said, and dogs had chased cows in the past. Frank said a law is needed to label dogs ìpotentially dangerous,î and perhaps be able to put restrictions on owners for dogs running loose. They currently canít do anything, he said.
Burfield will appear in district court on her citation on May 23.
Palubicki in court
Tim Palubicki, 37, La Crescent, requested an omnibus hearing in court on May 16 before Judge Robert Benson. Palubicki was charged on May 4 with third degree assault, a felony, and fifth degree assault, a gross misdemeanor. He allegedly pushed a woman down at her home in La Crescent that morning and broke her collarbone.
Connor pleads not guilty
Kobi Maria Connor, 20, La Crescent, pled not guilty on May 16 to four charges, including two felonies for sale of a controlled substance, and one felony count of theft. Connor, who was charged on February 2 with sale of crack cocaine in La Crescent, requested a jury trial. No date has been set.
Caledonia Argus
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Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com