The Faribault drug dealer who sold the fatal dose of heroin to Jason Madow in June is now charged with his murder. 28 year old Anthoney Fugalli warned the man that the heroin he sold him was laced with fentanyl. The toxicology report concluded that Madow died from a mix of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine. Fugalli pleaded guilty earlier this month to 1st degree drug sale. Rice County Attorney John Fossum said in a phone interview that, after hearing from the Medical Examiner, he has enough evidence to
prove the heroin came from Fugalli. He’s now charged him with 3rd degree murder as he awaits sentencing in the drug sale case on January 15th. Madow was found unresponsive on the morning of June 19th, the use of Narcan did not revive him. Fugalli and Madow had exchanged multiple text messages and met the day before his death. Fugalli admitted that he sold the drugs to Madow. Fossum said Fugalli had no priors before taking over the heroin business from another dealer named Tony, who is incarcerated on other charges. According to sentencing guidelines, if convicted of 3rd degree murder, he could get 8 or 9 years in prison. After sentencing on the drug sale conviction in January, he’ll be sent to St. Cloud State prison, where he will wait for further court appearances in Rice County. fugalli 3rd degree murder
Woman on cell phone pleads guilty in fatal crash
A woman who admitted to being on her cell phone at the time of a deadly crash, pled guilty yesterday in Dakota County court of 2 counts of Reckless Driving with substantial risk and 2 counts of Careless Driving. 57 year old Lori Janine Hoefs, of Oronoco, had been charged with Criminal Vehicular Homicide related to a crash in Randolph Township that killed 78 year old Brenda Travis, of Rochester, and seriously injured three others. On the morning of Oct. 22nd, 2016, Hoefs was westbound on Co. Rd. 88 near Highway 56. Unfamiliar with the road and on her phone, she did not see the stop sign despite 2 warnings that a stop is coming up. She struck the vehicle in the intersection, killing Travis. The driver of that vehicle sustained broken ribs and a broken pelvis. In all, 3 cars were involved in the crash and and a 4th sustained damage due to debris. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing is set for February 7th in Hastings. Hoefs had been charged with Criminal Vehicular Homicide. Hoefs complaint
EMS gets unexpected toy delivery
A generous donation from out of the blue. Northfield EMS Director, Brian Edwards, said he received an unexpected windfall on Friday. He just happened to be at work on the day after Thanksgiving, and the only one in the office at the time when he received a phone call from Rice/Steele Dispatch asking if they were accepting toys. Edwards said no. They’ve done it in the past but not for several years. Edwards listed off a few other options, none of which could handle the volume of toys! Turns out, Kevin Novess, is a trucker for Taylor Truck Line and delivers toys every year to wherever he ends up around Thanksgiving. This year it was Northfield. Novess buys the toys himself and had his sleeper compartment full! Taylor Truck Lines tried to hook him up with the CAC, the Police Dept and other places but there was no one in the offices. Novess offloaded them at the EMS, who will work with the Northfield Police Dept and Rice county Sheriff’s department to distribute the toys. Whatever is left they’ll take to the CAC.
Edwards mentioned that his ambulances have beanie babies on board for kids, and sometimes, adults, who may be in need of some comfort at the scene of a traumatic event. People have donated new Beanie Babies and they fit nicely in the ambulance cabinets. He said they also give them to other first responders, sharing with Police, Fire and Deputies. When asked how the Thanksgiving holiday weekend went overall, Edwards said, the call volume was average.
