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Gymnastics coach accused of exposing himself to children at park
Anoka County prosecutors say 26-year-old Kyle Anthony Pekula showed a group of children his genitals at a park in Blaine.
BLAINE, Minn. — A youth gymnastics coach is charged with criminal sexual conduct after police claim he exposed and rubbed his genitals in front of children at a park in Blaine.
Prosecutors detail the charges against 26-year-old Kyle Anthony Pekula in a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court this week.
Blaine police officers were dispatched to Carrara West Park at 1495 132nd Ave. NE just before 5 p.m. on Sept. 20 on reports of a man exposing himself. The mother of a 12-year-old boy told police that a man – later identified as Kyle Pekula – walked up to a picnic table where a number of children were, sat down and began talking to them.
During the conversation, the boy told police Pekula took his genitals out of his shorts and began rubbing himself with a Cheeto and then placed the food on the table.
At one point, the witness said, Pekula invited the children to attend his gymnastics class if they got permission from their parents, and proceeded to walk towards Jam Hops Gymnastics studio. Police went to the studio and met with Pekula, who matched the witness description.
The criminal complaint says Pekula admitted to being at the park and talking with children but denied exposing himself. Police then collected his clothing and found orange coloring like the kind used on Cheetos inside the defendant’s boxer shorts, the complaint stated.
Brenda Nolby, President of Jam Hops Gymnastics Studio, sent a message home to families informing them of Pekula’s arrest, and saying the coach had been fired and barred from entering the facility or making contact with students.
“This incident is deeply troubling. We know this has shaken trust and created concerns among parents and the community, and we are heartbroken this happened. Jam Hops was founded on a passion not only for gymnastics and dance, but also for inspiring kids to be life champions,” the statement read.
Nolby said Jam Hops is cooperating with Blaine police on the investigation and has reported the incident to SafeSport, the safety governing body that oversees gymnastics. She also told parents that Pekula was subject to a background check, which the studio does every two years.
Fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $3,000 fine.
It has been a week since a Minnesota man was last seen on a solo hike in Yellowstone National Park.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyoming — A Minnesota native is still missing in Yellowstone National Park after not returning from a solo hike to the park’s highest peak.
Austin King-Henke, 22, was dropped off at Terrace Point by boat on Sept. 14 ahead of the hike up Eagle Peak. He planned a week-long solo trip but was reported missing when he didn’t return.
The National Park Service says in the past seven days there have been 96 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, ground teams with spotting scopes, and a drone looking for King-Henke.
Officials said King-Henke spoke with a backcountry ranger in a cabin at a spot that was not on his planned route. He also made a phone call while at the summit of Eagles Peek, where he described fog, rain, sleet, hail, and windy conditions.
Authorities are working with cellular forensics experts to try to gain more information from his cellphone data.
The National Park Service describes Eagle Peak as an “expansive and hazardous area.”
King-Henke is a concessions worker at Xanterra Parks and Resorts, which operates in Yellowstone. He grew up in Winona and is a graduate of Winona-Cotter High School. His Facebook page reflects a young man who loves the outdoors and the adventures that come with it. Social media is inundated with posts hoping for his safe return.
The National Park Service said the search for King-Henke remains active and crews will continue to search the remote area as conditions warrant. More details on the search effort can be found by clicking here.
Austin’s father, Brian King-Henke, established a GoFundMe account to help him continue to play a leading role in the search effort.
Fairview has operated the University of Minnesota Medical Center since 1997.
MINNEAPOLIS — A deal for the University of Minnesota to buy back its academic health facilities from Fairview Health Services will take a little longer to complete than originally planned.
Earlier this year, the university’s Board of Regents approved a non-binding letter of intent with Fairview to repurchase the University of Minnesota Medical Center and transfer control back to the U of M.
However, in a joint statement sent to KARE 11, university officials and Fairview said they will not meet their self-imposed Sept. 30 deadline to finalize a deal.
“Since we reached agreement on our letter of intent last February, we have committed significant time and attention to working through the complexities involved in determining how a future partnership can best serve the health care needs of our state,” said U of M officials and Fairview Health Services in their joint statement. “This process has included partnering with leading financial and health care industry experts for comprehensive third-party analyses. That ongoing work is designed to provide us a clearer understanding of current operations and facilities, and what’s needed to ensure we can continue to provide world-class care that’s accessible and affordable to all Minnesotans, as well as a great working environment for our dedicated staff.”
Fairview has operated the university’s hospital since 1997, following financial struggles for the facility.
Officials say the delay in the deal is expected to be brief.
“While significant work has been done over the past eight months, we both agree additional time is needed. As we have made clear from the outset, getting these agreements right is our top priority. With that in mind, we hope within a month to wrap up the current stage of discussions,” the statement said.
In addition to the hospital sale, the two sides are negotiating the future of the “M Health Fairview” brand, after Fairview said it would not renew its current deal when it expires at the end of 2026.
Officials say patients should not notice any impact on care as talks continue.
“As has been true throughout these discussions, nothing changes for our patients, our care teams, or our employees at any of our facilities as we continue these discussions,” the statement said. “We remain focused on providing the high-quality, innovative care Minnesotans expect and deserve, and on strengthening our joint clinical enterprise.”
The building was evacuated and an investigation is underway.
ST PAUL, Minn. — State officials announced that the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State received a suspicious package and the office was evacuated Friday afternoon.
The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating the incident.
According to a news release, the package was addressed to the office with a return address to the “United States Traitor Elimination Army.”
The Minnesota Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing the state’s elections.
According to a 2023 news release, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State temporarily relocated to the Veterans Service Building last December “while construction is underway at the State Office Building. Construction is expected to last through 2026.”
State officials said several other Secretaries of State and state election officials received similar suspicious packages earlier this month.
“Threatening election officials is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement. “Our democracy depends on public servants who must be able to perform their duties free from fear, intimidation, or harassment. This action is not deterring our work or determination to deliver another election that is free, fair, accurate, and secure. We will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the person or persons responsible for this action are held accountable.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
