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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.
Six rideshare drivers accuse the leader of the MULDA — the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association — of fraud.
MINNEAPOLIS — Throughout the fight for higher wages waged by rideshare drivers that almost resulted in Uber and Lyft leaving the Twin Cities, Eid Ali, the president of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association or MULDA was always front and center.
Now, six drivers including four MULDA board members are suing the association.
Part of the lawsuit accuses Ali of consumer fraud, claiming he accepted money from them and other drivers for membership and that the MULDA website continues to solicit donations, while Ali changed the articles of incorporation to say MULDA has no members.
“When they requested documents to oversee what was going on, they were informed that they’ve been removed from the board,” said Tim Maher, attorney for the plaintiffs.
Maher asked a judge for an injunction, to stop MULDA from removing those board members, as the lawsuit plays out in court.
Ali and attorney Stephen Cooper who represents MULDA are firing back stating the money collected was not for memberships.
“They have absolutely no evidence of any misdeeds at all,” said attorney Stephen Cooper. “And that was not for membership. That was merely to become a contributor for legal help for the battle in the legislature.”
And they are asking for the judge to dismiss the case, saying videos like this show the plaintiffs undermining Ali and entire MULDA group by recruiting members to join the SEIU union instead.
“We’ve already defeated Uber and Lyft. Now it’s time to defeat the individuals who are trying to misuse our organization,” a plaintiff can be heard saying on a video court exhibit.
The judge will make a ruling soon.
The man was suspected of murdering an artist in St. Paul hours earlier.
ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the two officers who fatally shot a man in Belle Plaine on Friday.
The Saint Paul Police Department had sought the man, identified as 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, in connection with the murder of 66-year-old Carrie Shobe Kwok on Wednesday night.
According to the BCA, the officers located Murdock as he left the residence he had been staying at in Belle Plaine.
Investigators allegedly approached Murdock near the intersection of South Chestnut and East Prairie streets, according to the BCA.
“At one point during the confrontation that followed, the officers fired their weapons, striking Murdock,” said the BCA.
The officers were identified as Aaron Bohlen, who has worked in law enforcement for 10 years, and Lance Christianson, who has worked in the field for 20 years, according to the BCA.
Murdock was transported to HCMC, where he died of his injuries.
BCA personnel recovered a gun from the area where Murdock was shot, according to the release from the agency.
Portions of the incident were captured on body camera video, said the agency.
Both officers have been put on standard administrative leave.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The truck attempted to evade the SUV and lost control, veering into westbound traffic, where it struck the SUV the Minnesotans were in.
UTAH, USA — Four Minnesotans and a man from Utah were killed in a multi-vehicle crash southeast of Salt Lake City on Thursday.
The fatal collision occurred after an SUV attempted to pull onto the designated acceleration lane, but overshot it, and drove into a different lane, which was already occupied by a semi-truck, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
The truck attempted to evade the SUV and lost control, veering into westbound traffic, where it struck the SUV the four Minnesotans were in.
Another man who was riding his ATV on the westbound shoulder was also struck and killed by the semitruck.
The Minnesotans have been identified as 56-year-old Sang Her from Brooklyn Center, 38-year-old Lee Thao from Brooklyn Center, 26-year-old Bee Moua from St. Paul, and 25-year-old Mai Lor from St. Paul.
The man who was driving the ATV was identified as 35-year-old Gustavo Mendoza of Helper, Utah.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
