Posted: 4/11/07
Harris man charged with terroristic threats
 Andrew Isaman |
By Patrick Tepoorten and Clark Natalie
Harris firefighter Jeremy Melke made a disturbing discovery Friday evening while searching for a pair of suspenders in a fire hall storage area. Instead of something to hold up his pants he found several duffle bags, one of which had the barrel of a gun sticking out of it.
The discovery began a chain of events that ended in the arrest of Harris volunteer fireman Andrew Isaman, 21, early Sunday morning, for allegedly threatening to commit crimes of violence against members of the fire department and city government.
The discovery
According to Harris Fire Chief Will Lacina, when Melke discovered the firearm, members of his department were instructed to search the contents of what he described as two Army-type bags and a black duffle bag to determine if the bags contained ammunition. Lacina described all of the bags as "packed and full," suggesting that someone was using the fire hall to store personal belongings. Among those belongings was discovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a survival kit, knife, mace, and two journals. Isaman's name was on those bags.
Lacina stated that the journals were opened and were seen to contain what he described as "very morbid and disturbing" material. He said the journals talked of death, had depictions of nooses, hangings, guns, talked of killing, and contained threats directed at members of the fire department, including Lacina.
It was at this time that Lacina contacted the Chisago County Sheriff's Office, which took the bag into custody. According to Chisago County Sheriff Todd Rivard, an official search warrant had not been served on the contents of the bags as of Monday morning. He could not confirm the presence of journals or any threats contained within.
Lacina stated that firefighters acted as guards, stationed at the fire hall because Isaman had access to the hall. Some of those guards were reportedly armed and were concealed carry permit holders.
Lacina also said that Isaman had tried to speak with him sometime Saturday morning or early afternoon, but that Lacina responded that it wasn't the time or the place.
At that time, Lacina alleges that Isaman informed him that he wouldn't be around later in the day because he would be "Dee-jaying in Rush City."
Behind the scenes, the fire department and Harris Mayor Rick Smisson held a meeting and decided to take action to terminate Isaman. The protocol for doing so included "hand-delivering" a notice to Isaman to appear before the city regarding his actions.
Lacina and Smisson delivered the notice to Isaman's "last known address" on Saturday afternoon. According to Smisson, neither he nor Lacina attempted to secure a Sheriff's deputy to accompany them to Isaman's parents house. Smisson stated that a deputy wasn't needed because Isaman was not supposed to be home. "We knew he wasn't there. His parents had kicked him out of the house," he said.
However, Smisson also stated that Isaman was believed to be living in a tent in the backyard.
Lacina further stated that an attempt to have the Sheriff's Office serve papers in a civil matter, on its own time, involved protocol, which would have taken a few days. He added that he and Smisson did not feel the issue could wait that long as the city was planning to hold a special meeting Tuesday, April 10. Lacina also indicated that, as per his earlier discussion with Isaman, he did not believe Isaman would be home.
Both Lacina and Smisson reported that, while at the address, both felt people were acting strangely toward them. Smisson stated that there were roughly five individuals there known to be friends of Isaman, and that he felt he was being "stalled" by them. Smisson added that at first he and Lacina were told that Isaman was in the house, then that he wasn't around.
Lacina and Smisson both indicated that, at some point, both began to feel like they were in danger, handed the notice to an individual, and left "hurriedly."
Firefighter claims Isaman made threats
Early Sunday morning, Lacina was at Big Daddy's bar in Harris when he was approached by firefighter Stan Brandon and his wife Latonia and told a frightening story. According to Brandon's taped statement to deputy Cliff Sheppeck, Isaman had been in Big Daddy's earlier that night and asked to speak to Brandon privately. He allegedly told Brandon he had received a suspension letter from the fire department and that he was "extremely pissed off when he received the letter." He further informed Brandon that he had been sitting in his yard all day, with a shotgun, contemplating going to the fire hall, but decided against it.
Isaman allegedly admitted that he had been home when Lacina and Smisson arrived at his parent's house with the letter, and had gone to get the shotgun in preparation for a confrontation. By the time he arrived where Lacina and Smisson were though, they had gone.
According to Brandon, Isaman concluded his story by saying he had to get out of town or "something bad would happen."
Brandon and his wife gave Isaman a ride to a North Branch address in the Peaceful Valley trailer court, where Isaman had indicated he was going to "get drunk." They immediately returned and informed Lacina of the conversation.
Sheppeck, along with North Branch officers, went to the address described by Brandon and arrested Isaman without incident. He was taken to the Chisago County Jail at about 4:30 a.m., where he agreed to speak with Sheppeck, according to the criminal complaint.
At that time, Isaman again indicated how angry he had been over the suspension, and that he had spoken to friends, and had been in possession of a loaded shotgun. He also admitted stating that he was thinking of "shooting somebody," but did not remember naming anyone specifically. When asked a second time if he had claimed he planned to shoot someone Isaman responded, "yes."
Following the interview, Sheppeck went to Isaman's parent's house, where he retrieved a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, a Sears 30.30 lever-action rifle, an Auto Air 2 BB handgun, and two shotgun shells, which were placed into evidence.
Isaman charged
Isaman was formally charged with making terroristic threats, which carries a penalty of up to five years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines; and disorderly conduct. He had his first appearance in Chisago County court on Monday morning and did not enter a plea. He is being held at the jail on $30,000 bail.
Were he to make bail, he would be released under the conditions that he have no contact with Harris firefighters or city staff, and come into no contact with alcohol, drugs, or firearms.
His next court appearance is scheduled for April 23.
A special meeting of the Harris City Council was called for Tuesday, April 10, to determine Isaman's fate with the fire department. That meeting took place too late for press time.
Fire Chief reacts
Lacina stated on Tuesday that he was shocked by what had transpired over the preceding days. He said that, over his career he had heard from many angry people who sometimes even made threats. "I've had my house egged, salt poured in my gas tanks, a rock thrown through my window, but it's just bullying and I've learned to accept it. But this wasn't an attempt to scare, this was matter of fact."
Lacina also credited the Sheriff's Office with being very responsive to the situation, saying, "they've done a fabulous job."
Comment from Brandon, 4/30/07
Doing a great job Mr. Lacina!
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com