Posted: 4/17/07
Cabin on Pohlman Road trashed, owner just wants to know why
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Jack McNearney, of Bloomington, bought the 65-acre spread on Pohlman Road about five miles east of Caledonia 25 years ago to get away from the hectic, rat-race pace of the Twin Cities. For the past quarter-century, his little piece of paradise, which includes wooded rolling hills, a pond, and a comfortable cabin, brought him nothing but pleasure.
"I got to know my neighbors, many people in Caledonia. This is my second home. I always felt so good when Iíd be heading down to my cabin," McNearney said last week.
Those feelings of comfort and security faded considerably in March when he received a call from one of his Houston County neighbors.
"I hadnít been down to the cabin for several months," McNearney continued. "I had a neighbor who would stop by and look in on my place once in a while during the winter months. He went over to check things out in mid-March, and noticed the gate at the end of the driveway was knocked down. When he drove up to the cabin, he could tell that someone had broken in, had a big beer party, and pretty much trashed the place. He called me right away and also called the sheriffís office. I couldnít believe all the vandalism."
All the windows and screens of McNearneyís cabin had been broken and torn. Much of the furniture was smashed or broken, and large holes were punched into the sheetrocked ceiling. Beer cans were strewn all over the interior, on the porch, and outside the cabin. A fire had been started outside, with pieces of furniture and other articles used as kindling. A partially-filled propane tank was also situated in the ashes where the fire had blazed.
"Theyíre lucky that propane tank didnít explode. I donít know what they were thinking. That could have killed and injured a lot of people," McNearney noted.
The Houston County Sheriffís Department has been investigating the break-in. At the present time, they have interviewed a number of suspects, but no arrests have been made.
"Weíre working on this case, but it is somewhat difficult, since it appears as if the party probably took place a month before it was reported," Houston County Chief Investigator Gary Eddy explained. The sheriffís office has taken fingerprints from beer cans and other items. But it might be quite challenging proving the persons who littered the area with beer cans were the ones who trashed the cabin.
"Something like this can really create some bad feelings," McNearney said. "I really donít understand why anyone would want to destroy property like this. Kids have had beer parties on my property before. Iíve picked up the beer cans. But this was entirely different. This was malicious. I donít have a lot of things in life. This was very special to me and I always had such good feelings coming down here to spend time on my property and visit with all the good people of this area.
"Weíve got a pretty good idea who a few of the kids were that were involved in this," McNearney added. "And the sheriffís department has been questioning them. But I donít think this was just a few kids. By the looks of it, this was quite a large party. I just hope the persons who were involved in this will be caught and forced to pay for this. Itís going to take quite a bit of money to replace all the windows, fix the holes in the ceiling and replace the furniture."
And it might take some time for the anger and hurt inside McNearney to subside.
"This has been my second home for many years. I just donít understand why," he concluded.
If anyone has any information concerning this crime, they are asked to contact the Houston County Sheriffís Office at (507) 725-33799 or 725-5122.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com