otter tail county sheriff Archives

UPDATE: Big Pine Lake Incident: Woman Dead, Man in Custody

July 17, 2023

KVRR Staff,

PERHAM, Minn. (KVRR) — A standoff on Big Pine Lake near Perham, Minnesota is over with a woman dead and a man in custody. Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office says names are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing. Numerous crews responded to the home east of Perham around 10:30 Monday morning after the sheriff’s office got a call that…

Sheriff: Woman Stabs 2 Deputies Executing Search Warrant

Authorities say an Underwood, Minnesota woman stabbed two Otter Tail County sheriff's deputies while they tried to arrest her for a felony drug arrest warrant

July 5, 2023

Adam Ladwig,

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) – Authorities say an Underwood, Minnesota woman stabbed two Otter Tail County sheriff’s deputies while they tried to arrest her for a felony drug arrest warrant. According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, on July 1 at 11:40 a.m., deputies executed a search warrant at a residence north of Underwood with the intent of…

Otter Tail County Investigating Businesses Hit By Gift Card Scam

May 22, 2023

TJ Nelson,

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office is investigating another round of gift card scams. They say a number of businesses have fallen victim to the scam including in Fergus Falls. A caller identifies themselves as being with law enforcement or an actual officer. They instruct the business to take personal or business funds to buy gift…

Names Released In Suspected Murder-Suicide Near Battle Lake

November 23, 2022

TJ Nelson,

OTTER TAIL CO., Minn. (KVRR) — Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office identifies the victims of what is believed to be a murder-suicide as 59-year-old Steven Kern and 58-year-old Susan Kinnunen. Deputies found their bodies in a house in rural Battle Lake a little before 2:30 Monday afternoon. The investigation into the double deaths is still under investigation and the sheriff’s…

Deputy faces drug charges in crash that killed two people

February 22, 2021

Jim Monk,

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) – An Otter Tail County deputy has been charged with misconduct and driving under the influence of fentanyl in connection to a high-speed chase that ended in a deadly crash in Fergus Falls last October. Deputy Kelly Backman was in pursuit of a minivan driven by a man in a drug investigation when the van slammed…

Sheriff identifies Ottertail man killed in crash with train

February 5, 2021

Jim Monk,

OTTERTAIL, Minn. – Sheriff’s officials says the pickup driver who was killed in a collision with a freight train in Otter Tail County was a local man. Sixty-year-old Joseph Lyle Mack, from Ottertail, died Thursday morning at a crossing southeast of the city. The pickup was struck on the passenger side by a northbound Canadian Pacific train. Mack was dead…

Otter Tail County Investigating Baby Death

At this time they believe the death is accidental, however the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has joined the investigation.

December 3, 2018

Site Staff,

UNDERWOOD, MN — The Otter Tail County Sheriff is investigating the death of a one month old baby in Underwood, Minnesota. At this time they believe the death is accidental, however the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has joined the investigation. At 5:07 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call reporting a…

New Details Released On Abduction and Arrest In Otter Tail County

According to the Sheriff at around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Anthony Randklev was armed as he entered an unlocked door into the home of Amber Simonson.

July 23, 2018

Site Staff,

FERGUS FALLS, MN — The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office released new details on the kidnapping of a Fergus Falls woman. According to the Sheriff at around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Anthony Randklev was armed as he entered an unlocked door into the home of Amber Simonson. Randklev forced Simonson into his vehicle. Simonson’s four children were home at the time…

Human Remains Found In New York Mills Identified

Lynda Meyer hadn't been seen by family members since late summer of 2016.

May 29, 2018

Site Staff,

NEW YORK MILLS, MN – The family of a woman who grew up in Barnesville says its been notified that remains found in New York Mills earlier this month were those of Lynda Meyer. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on May 25, 2018 that the human remains located in New York Mills on May 20, 2018 are those of Lynda…

Charges Filed In Double Homicide in Rural Perham

21 year old William Lynn Hillman is charged in the death of two individuals in rural Perham, MN.

April 17, 2018

Site Staff,

**UPDATE** PERHAM, MN — 21 year old William Lynn Hillman is charged in the death of two individuals in rural Perham, MN. Hillman, of Pine River, is in custody on 2 charges of 2nd degree homicide. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s office says victim information will be released by the medical examiner after positive identification has been made. PERHAM, MN — The…