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Lindstrom officer shotA Lindstrom police officer was injured last week when he tried to wrestle a gun away from the grip of a man who broke into two homes. Chisago City Police Chief William Schlumbohm said a man living in one of two apartments at 10040 Lake Boulevard in Chisago City called 911 at about 11:30 p.m. last Friday to report a man who was breaking into his house. Once inside, the man, later identified as Matthew Mondalek, 24, of Ohio, seemed agitated and repeated ìWhereís the girl?î Schlumbohm said. The suspect left the apartment and broke into the second apartment where a 17-year-old girl was sleeping. The man repeated his request for an unknown girl and was on his way up the stairs when Chisago City Police Officer Jim Varco arrived and tried to take him into custody. A struggle ensured and the man, who was armed with a sharpened piece of metal, pushed Varco down the stairs and tried to get his handgun. Lindstrom Police Officer Michael Delmont arrived and tried to help Varco. In the scuffle, the suspect ripped Varcoís handgun out of its holster and held it under his stomach when the two officers managed to turn him face down. Although the bullet tore through Delmontís right hand he continued his grasp on the top of the gun, preventing it from reloading. Delmont and Varco pinned down Mondalek until other officers from North Branch, Chisago County, Wyoming and Forest Lake arrived on the scene. Mondalek was charged with attempted murder and several other charges. He is held in the Chisago County Jail on a half-million dollar bond. Mondalek had previous minor run-ins with Ohio police and officials are investigating whether he has a mental disorder, Schlumbohm said. ©ECM Post Review |