Posted: 10/5/06
Man kidnapped and shot, suspects sought
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By Patrick Tepoorten
The Chisago County SWAT team, along with SWAT teams from the State Patrol and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, executed simultaneous search warrants at midnight Thursday morning after learning of a kidnapping and shooting in Nessel Twsp. Two suspects, drugs, and guns were recovered in the sweep, but two other suspects remain at large.
According to Lt. Steve Pouti of the Chisago County Sheriffís Office, law enforcement did not learn of the incident until the victim, an adult male whose name is not being released at this time, appeared at an area hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds on Wednesday afternoon.
Subsequent questioning revealed that the victim had been kidnapped from an acquaintanceís Cambridge residence very early Tuesday morning. From there he was brought to a residence in Nessel Twsp., where he was allegedly threatened repeatedly with firearms, assaulted, and ultimately shot in the legs with birdshot from a .22 gauge rifle.
After being shot, the victim was allowed to run off, according to Pouti.
Two of four suspects in the act have been arrested as a result of search warrants executed at their residences.
Kurt Erickson, 39, Stanchfield, was booked on charges of kidnapping, first degree aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit first degree assault, and second degree possession of methamphetamine.
Delbert Keith Sybrandt, 49, of Rush City, was booked for kidnapping, first degree aggravated robbery, first degree assault, and fifth degree possession of methamphetamine.
Along with the suspects, law enforcement rounded up numerous guns, reportedly primarily from the Erickson residence, and an unknown quantity of drugs. More charges could be forthcoming related to those discoveries.
Two suspects, whose identities are not being released by the Sheriffís Office, are still being sought. Anyone with information related to the crime or the whereabouts of the two at-large suspects is encouraged to call Chisago County investigator Garice Carlson at (651) 213-6321.
Investigators are not yet sure which of the four suspects is alleged to have shot the victim, but believe they have narrowed the shooting to two of the four suspects. At this time the Sheriffís Office believes the kidnapping was intended as retaliation for property alleged to have been stolen by the victim. The suspects and victim were known to each other.
The victim is reported to be recovering from his wounds.
Pouti noted that the SWAT teams involved handled the potentially dangerous situation well. ìIt was like clockwork,î he said on Thursday. ìThe suspects had no chance.î
Comment from John Bloodgood, 10/6/06
You wrote, "and ultimately shot in the legs with birdshot from a .22 gauge rifle."
Really? Birdshot is normally fired from a shotgun, not a rifle.
Rifles are measured in caliber, not gauges.
A .22 gauge firearm would have a diameter of about 2.75 inches (compare that to the infamous .50 caliber with its diameter of .5 inches, or a golf ball with a diameter of roughly 1.75 inches).
Comment from Carla Heinke, 10/6/06
To John Bloodgood:
Yes, birdshot can be loaded into a .22 gauge rifle.
My grandfather used to "discourage" squirrels from his bird feeders in this manner.
Comment from Carla Heinke, 10/9/06
Technically speaking, the terms "gauge" and "rifle" are mutually exclusive.
The correct wording would have been a ".22 caliber rifle."
I think everyone can agree the weapon was a firearm.
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