Sheriff Press Release

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Media Release

June 7, 2024

Malberg Lake Rescue

On June 6, 2024, at 1546 hours (3:46 pm), Lake County Dispatch received a call from a female party whose husband was in the BWCA with 3 other men. She indicated that she received a call from Focus Point International stating that they had received an SOS from a locator from that group. Coordinates from the locator placed the group on Malberg Lake within the BWCA, and there was no information available as to the type of emergency that may be occurring due to the locator not having messaging capability.  

Based on the limited information, the US Forest Service was contacted to see if a Beaver could fly in with a Lake County Deputy and medical personnel to check on the group. At approximately 1747 hours, initial contact was made with the group. The group indicated that a 69-year-old member of their group was last seen at 1130 that morning when he went for a walk and had not returned.

Based on the remote location and time of day, a ground search was planned utilizing Lake County Search and Rescue personnel, which would start the following morning.

The Minnesota State Patrol was requested and with the assistance of their fixed wing aircraft were able to locate the missing party some distance away from the location of the group. The missing party was actively trying to communicate with the aircraft.

The decision was made to activate the Minnesota Aviation Rescue Team (MART) through the Minnesota State Patrol to assist in rescuing the missing party.

At approximately 2342 the missing party was rescued and transported via helicopter to the Ely airport where he was checked out by medical personnel.  

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Minnesota State Patrol, US Forest Service, Minnesota Aviation Rescue Team and Ely Ambulance for their assistance.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Media Release

June 6, 2024

Basswood Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Water Emergency

On June 4, 2024 at 1536 hours (3:36 pm), Lake County Dispatch received a call of a Boy Scout group with an overturned canoe on Basswood Lake.  Four juveniles and one adult male had made it to an island, while four more juveniles and another adult male were on the mainland.    No injuries were reported at this point.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) notified Dispatch that they also had been contacted by the campers and advised them that rescue plans were in the works, and the group was advised to stay put. OPP advised that they would be on standby if their assistance was needed, but due to the weather they were unable to assist with any air assets.

Rescue units were dispatched and USFS was contacted for assistance. Due to the approaching storm front, it was decided that for the safety of all, rescue crews would go in to assist the following morning.

At 1759 hours (5:59 pm), OPP notified Dispatch that they had been in contact with the adult via Garmin and were advised that the campers had been rescued and they no longer needed assistance from law enforcement or rescue.

No additional information is available at this time.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Media Release

June 6, 2024

A male was discovered deceased in the Baptism River on May 12th.

On May 12, 2024 at 1144 hours (11:44 am), Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a body found in the Baptism River in Tettegouche State Park.  At 1518 hours (3:18 pm) when Lake County Deputies and Rescue had retrieved the body from the river, the decedent’s identity was unknown.

On May 13, 2024 at approximately 1800 hours (6:00 pm), some clothing and a wallet, belonging to Zachery Bulen of Finland, were located at the base of Illgen Falls north of Tettegouche State Park.  A positive identification was confirmed with fingerprints by the Minnesota BCA.

Agencies assisting the Lake County Sheriff’s Office during this incident were Lake County Rescue, Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay Police, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

At this time, a cause of death has not been determined and the incident is still being investigated.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

May 28, 2024

A male was discovered deceased in White Iron Lake over the weekend.

On Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 1406 hours (2:06 pm), the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a party who had seen a body floating on the water on White Iron Lake.

At approximately 1437 hours (2:37 pm), Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene.   Also responding to the scene were the U.S. Forest Service, DNR, U.S. Border Patrol, and Morse-Fall Lake Fire Dept.   Contact was made with the reporting party who stated they had seen an unoccupied boat banging on the rocks and then noticed the body floating on the water.

Initial investigation did not indicate any accident had occurred and the victim was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident.

The Medical Examiner Investigator preliminarily ruled it an accidental drowning and the incident is still an active investigation pending final results.

The victim has been identified as 54 year-old Duane Kreuger from St. Louis, Missouri.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

August 24, 2023

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 07:53 hours, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a one-vehicle crash on Fernberg Road near Summer Home Road.

The deceased driver, and only occupant of the vehicle, was 62-year old Robert Oliva, who had been residing in the Ely area.   The accident is currently under investigation.

Responding to the scene were the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Highway-Fall Lake, Ely Area Ambulance, and Morse-Fall Lake Fire Department.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

June 26, 2023

UPDATE:  The two males who drowned after cliff jumping into Lake Superior have been identified as Austin Henning, 18 years old, of South St. Paul, and Maximillion Williams, 18 years old, of Inver Grove Heights.

The Minnesota DNR also responded to the scene.

On Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 13:25 hours, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a call about two parties cliff jumping at Black Beach in Silver Bay who were seen struggling to swim in Lake Superior.  

Lake County Search & Rescue responded and assistance was requested from St. Louis County Rescue Squad and the US Coast Guard.  The US Coast Guard dispatched a boat from their Bayfield (WI) station as well as a helicopter to assist with the search.

At around 18:12 hours, the body of a male was located and pulled out of the water.  At around 19:39 hours, the body of a second male was located and pulled out of the water.  The identities of the two males will be released once family notifications are complete.

Responding to the scene were the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Search & Rescue, Lake County Ambulance, Silver Bay Police Department, Silver Bay Fire Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, St. Louis County Rescue Squad, and the US Coast Guard.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

North Shore State Trail / Airbase Road, Snowmobile Fatality

March 7, 2023

On 3-04-2023 at 10:58 AM, Lake County Dispatch received a call reporting a snowmobile accident on the CJ Ramstad/North Shore State Trail snowmobile trail crossing on the Airbase Road in Finland.

After being transported by ambulance and rescue to the LifeLink landing zone at the Clair Nelson Center in Finland, the victim, a 52-year old female named Kellie Brickson of Hermantown, was pronounced dead.

Responding to the scene were the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Rescue Squad, Lake County Ambulance and LifeLink air medical

.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

Hwy 2 / Gun Club Road, Personal Injury Accident

February 13, 2023

On 2-13-2023 at 6:07 AM, Lake County Dispatch received a call about a collision on Highway 2 at the Gun Club Road north of Two Harbors.  The crash involved a semi truck and a passenger vehicle.   The driver of the semi, a 71-year old male, denied medical attention.  The driver of the passenger vehicle, a 54-year old female, was extricated from the vehicle by the Two Harbors Fire Department and transported to St. Luke’s by Lake County Ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.  The accident is currently under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the MN State Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Inspector.  The Two Harbors Fire Department, Lake County Rescue Squad, and Lake County Ambulance responded and assisted at the scene.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

Hudson Lake/Lake Four, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Water Emergency

May 16, 2022

At 1117 hours today, Lake County Dispatch received a call of 2 adults in a canoe paddling on Hudson Lake when their canoe capsized.  Both individuals made it to shore on the portage between Hudson Lake and Lake Four.   Minnesota State Patrol sent out a helicopter to assist with the rescue.

At 1509 hours, MSP helicopter transported one of the parties to the medical staging area on Snowbank Rd.  At 1537 hours, MSP helicopter transported the second party to the medical staging area.

The parties are a 41-year-old male and his 64-year-old father.  Names of the parties were not available at this time nor were their conditions.