PRESS RELEASE June 5, 2013 Alleged underage consumption Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent C.

Lindgren reports that on May 27, 2013, at approximately 1:20 AM, the Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Office Communications Center received an emergency call of a medical emergency at 13252 Central Avenue, Milaca, MN. The nature of the medical was reported as a 17 year old male who was unresponsive but breathing and intoxicated. A Mille Lacs County Deputy responded to the scene as well as a Milaca Police Officer and North Memorial Ambulance Service. The 17 year old male party was transported by North Ambulance to the Fairview Medical Center located in Princeton, MN. After the 17 year old male was taken to the hospital, a Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Deputy went to a location identified as 15203 140th Street, Milaca Township, Foreston, MN, where the 17 year old male had reportedly been consuming alcoholic beverages earlier. The Deputy identified several vehicles by license plate parked at or near the residence. The Deputy attempted calling the residence to make contact with a homeowner to advise them of why the Deputy was on the property in an attempt to gather information to assist medical personnel treating the 17 year old male patient. Upon the Deputies arrival on the property, several individuals fled from the Deputy into the woods. The Deputy was not assisted on the property nor was he immediately able to identify those that fled. The Deputy was able to identify several vehicles leading to follow up interviews. Milaca Police Department also received independent information from a concerned parent and has forwarded that person to and is cooperating with the Sheriffs inquiry. Another underage individual, later identified and interviewed, also confirmed underage consumption of alcohol on the property that same evening. In conducting follow up, the Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Office and the Milaca Police Department jointly interviewed the 17 year old male upon his release from the hospital. The 17 year old indicated that he had been consuming alcoholic beverages during the evening prior to and after arriving at a bon fire party located near the residence of 15203 140th Street, Milaca Township, Foreston, MN, and

identified as belonging to a Mille Lacs Tribal Police Officer and a county elected official. Upon discovering and confirming that underage alcohol consumption occurred on the property, the Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Office and the Milaca Police Department jointly determined that a conflict of interest exists. The Sheriff immediately contacted the Minnesota Sheriffs Association Executive Director James Franklin requesting conflict investigation assistance through the Sheriffs Association MISSION; the resource available to Sheriff Offices throughout the State of Minnesota to assist state sheriffs in having outside criminal investigators conduct investigations that are determined potential conflicts in nature. Excutive Director Franklin contacted the Anoka County Sheriffs Office, who accepted the conflict investigation, and will be conducting the investigation for Mille Lacs County. The case is currently assigned to the Anoka County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division as to avoid there being any appearance of a conflict of interest in local agencies and deputies being further assigned. Sheriff Lindgren reports that there is currently an Anoka County Sheriffs Detective assigned to the case. Anyone with information is asked to provide it to the Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Office at 320-983-8250, or anonumysly through our Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-222-TIIPS, or at the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office website. Cordially, Brent C. Lindgren Mille Lacs County Sheriff