Star Tribune
1 person dead, 2 firefighters injured during house fire in west metro
A fire in a home in Rogers left one person dead and two firefighters injured, officials said.
The blaze broke out late Sunday afternoon at a house in the 20700 block of Territorial Road, the Rogers Fire Department said.
Firefighters found one person inside who was dead, according to the fire department. The victim’s identity has yet to be released.
Two firefighters were slightly injured, the fire department said. One was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, while the other was treated at the scene.
Officials have yet to address the cause of the fire.
Star Tribune
Police ID man shot by coworker at St. Paul post office
Officials on Monday released the identity of the man who was shot and wounded by a coworker outside a post office in St. Paul over the weekend.
Roy Varghese, 50, of Eagan, was shot several times mid-afternoon Sunday at the U.S. Postal Service’s Elway Station at 1715 W. 7th St., on a report of a person shot inside the building, according to police. Varghese was taken by emergency responders to Regions Hospital. His condition was not immediately available.
Police say they arrested the suspected shooter about an hour later during a traffic stop near W. 7th and Madison streets.
The suspect, a 28-year-old man from Minneapolis, remains jailed on suspicion of assault with charges pending. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.
In a statement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said it was working with law enforcement to investigate the shooting.
Court records show the suspect was convicted in May 2022 of a gross misdemeanor for threatening to have someone kill the owner of a senior assisted-living facility in Edina where he worked as a janitor. He was sentenced to two years’ probation.
Star Tribune
Maple Grove parts ways with fire chief
The Maple Grove City Council last week approved a separation agreement between the city and Tim Bush and authorized city staff to move forward with plans to find a replacement to lead the fire department, which has five stations and 95 firefighters.
Bush, who had expressed a desire to retire after 16 years of service, will be paid $5,000 for his voluntary retirement, which will take effect Dec. 31, according to terms of the agreement signed by both parties on Sept. 24.
The separation comes after the City Council met in closed session Sept. 5 to discuss “preliminary consideration of allegations or charges against” Bush, according to City Council meeting documents. No details were released.
Bush appears to have left the department two days later, but his departure was rescinded by the council and amended to state he was placed on paid administrative leave from Sept 7 to 24, according to the separation agreement. Bush will be placed on medical leave and use sick time from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15 . At that time, he will be placed back on administrative leave until he retires Dec. 31, the agreement states.
In signing the agreement, Bush and the City agreed to release all claims between them.
Bush had served as fire chief since 2017. Bill Abderhalden has been named acting fire chief, according to the city’s website.
Bush did not respond to a request for comment.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis man crashes ATV and dies west of Park Rapids
A Minneapolis man has died in an ATV crash in northwestern Minnesota, officials said.
The wreck occurred mid-afternoon Saturday about 15 miles west of Park Rapids in Wolf Lake Township, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office said.
Jeremy Paul Mickelson, 48, crashed when his Polaris Sportsman 1000 went off Wolf Lake Forest Road at a corner, the sheriff’s office said.
Emergency responders provided immediate aid to Mickelson, but he died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.