A Faribault man has been charged with murder after a man he allegedly assaulted died from wounds suffered in a road rage incident.
Leslie Shawn Sanders, 52, had been initially charged with first-degree assault following a June 27th incident that left 79-year-old Larry Myers, also of Faribault, with several facial fractures. Myers had been on his way to a dialysis appointment.
As a result of the altercation, Myers suffered a significant brain injury that left him unable to breathe on his own, nor he could tolerate needed dialysis treatments or care for himself.
He was removed from life support and died Wednesday evening.
Sanders, who was released on $100,000 unconditional bond after the initial charges, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon and awaits arraignment on the murder charge and one count of third-degree assault in addition to the prior assault charge.
The assault stemmed from an incident that occurred about 3 miles southeast of Dundas where Sanders’ pickup passed the SUV driven by Myers, hitting it as he moved back into the northbound lane. The vehicles continued to an intersection, where Sanders got out of his truck, approached Myers’ SUV and started punching Myers in the face.
“The significant injury and now death caused by this assault indicates Mr. Sanders is clearly a risk to public safety, and the current conditions of release need to be reconsidered,” said County Attorney John Fossum.
Sanders’ next court date has not been announced.
Rice County Sheriff’s Department assists with investigators, drones
The disappearance of six-year-old Elle Ragin is highlighting the way Rice County Law Enforcement agencies work together, as well as the technological advances of 21st century police work.
Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas said his department was asked for help when the search began, which they quickly provided. Aside from providing assistance with the search itself, Thomas said have they also worked on other duties so more Northfield officers could work on finding Elle.
“I had a couple of our investigators assist with some other calls that came into Northfield. When you have a missing six-year-old that’s your primary focus. But the phone doesn’t quit ringing. People still have calls that needed to be taken care of, so we assisted with that.”
Another way the Sheriff’s department has helped is in the use of drone technology. Thomas said his department has one drone, which is a rather large unit, that is equipped with zooming lenses, heat searching technology, and a tether that allows the pilot to keep the drone in the air for any length of time without having to bring it back down to change the battery.
“Drone technology has created a unique dynamic,” he said. “We can search something like a corn field now in a fraction of the time it would take using people.”
The department employs special drone pilots who are licensed to operate the devices in public, or more precisely as Thomas put it, “so they can fly over people.” Each pilot is required to use a drone for a special training exercise every month and Thomas said his department is using those exercises for the benefit of the county. Last fall, he said, the drone was used to video and map the land upon which the new Public Safety Center will be built. That footage can be used by the architects and for surveying purposes. And he said, it will be a good way to look back at how the development of the area will affect it moving forward. Another drone flew over a waterway so the county can keep track of erosion without having to send people through some difficult terrain.
Thomas said the department has allocated money for a second drone in the 2023 budget.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas can be heard here
4-Way Taste will support Rotary programs near and far
The Red Barn Farm will host Northfield Rotary’s 4-Way Taste Festival next week on July 21st. The Rotary fundraiser
is an opportunity for attendees to sample beer, wine and spirits from a host of local and regional producers.
Event organizer and Rotarian Anika Rychner said the event began in 2019, and this year will be the first one that will be “somewhat normal” without any Covid restrictions.
This year’s vendors include Alexis Bailey Vineyard, Badger Hill Brewing, Cannon River Winery, Chapel Brewing, Foremost Brewing, Imminent Brewing, Indian Island Winery, Keepsake Cidery, Loon Liquor, The Milltown Mashers, Spiral Brewery, Tanzenwald Brewing, Tilion Brewing, Mineral Springs Brewery, Carlos Creek Winery and Vinocopia. Maria’s Taco Hut will be on hand offering her famous Mexican concessions as well. Live music will be provided by multi-instrumentalist and popular local entertainer Mark Kreitzer as well as long time Rice County favorites Jivan Ivan and the Kings of Swing.
The Four-Way Taste is one of the major fundraisers of the year for Rotary. Proceeds will support local and international service projects designed to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and strengthen local economies.
Rotary Past President Richard Thompson said through the pandemic, the organization has continued to support local groups such as HCI, Community Action Center and The Key, but there are some interesting projects they have engaged with around the world that they are excited about as well.
“We have international projects in Tanzania, Togo and Guatemala. And we just recently donated some money for a hospital bed in Nikolayev, Ukraine. And we sent some money for disaster relief in Bangladesh.”
General admission tickets for the 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. event are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Rychner said a special early admission VIP experience from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is available for $100 which includes a complimentary pint glass and a $10 gift certificate for the food truck. Tickets may be purchased through the Rotary website at northfieldrotary.org. All attendees must be 21 years old.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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