Wife of man killed by officer in Cottage Grove is charged

Wife of man killed by officer in Cottage Grove is charged Jessica S. Wilson, 27, whose husband was shot to death by a Cottage Grove police officer late Monday during a traffic stop, was charged with several felonies in Washington County District Court on Friday.

According to the complaint, the couple, with their 11-month-old son in the backseat, were stopped at 11:51 p.m. in a stolen car in the 8200 block of Hadley Avenue S. When officer Brad Petersen asked Robert T. Wilson, 27, to get out of the car, Wilson tried to drive away. Petersen reached to grab the keys, the complaint said, but Jessica Wilson put the car into driving gear. Petersen was dragged for more than 560 feet with his arm tangled in the steering wheel.

Petersen shot Robert Wilson in the chest, the complaint said.

Police found methamphetamine, a pistol, syringes, a digital scale, computer equipment and stacks of paper with images of currency in the car, the complaint said.

Jessica Wilson was charged with drug possession, carrying a pistol without a permit and aiding and abetting counterfeiting, receiving stolen property, fleeing a police officer and two counts of obstruction.

Bail was set at $10,000. She remained jailed in Washington County on Friday. Her next court appearance is set for April 14.

JIM ANDERSON

Pilot Alvin Bipes, 56, and passenger Timothy Jacobsen, 58, were in satisfactory condition, according to Hennepin County Medical Center spokeswoman Christine Hill. Jacobsen suffered a broken arm and Bipes a cracked vertebra. Both have cuts and bruises.

Their Beechcraft 95 Travel Air crashed shortly after takeoff from Flying Cloud Airport into 3 feet of water on the edge of the Minnesota River. The plane was bound for Wisconsin.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Father resuscitates boy, 10, who was entangled in rope swing The father of a 10-year-old boy who accidentally nearly hanged himself on a rope swing in Moorhead, Minn., resuscitated his son on Thursday, authorities said.

Emergency responders were called to the home about 6 p.m. Thursday on a report of a child not breathing.

No foul play is suspected, Jacobson said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

No one hurt when fire destroys Maple Grove home, hits 2 others A windswept fire destroyed a Maple Grove home early Friday and damaged two others in the 6500 block of Shadyview Lane.

No one was hurt in the blaze, which started about 3 a.m. on the deck of the destroyed home, Maple Grove Fire Chief Scott Anderson said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appears to be an accident, he said.

The fire went up an outside wall of the house and entered the home through open windows, Anderson said.

A strong breeze caused the fire to spread to a nearby wetland, starting a small grass fire, which the firefighters put out quickly.

Anderson estimated damages to the homes at $750,000.

ALLIE SHAH

Stearns County deputy charged with criminal sexual conduct A Stearns County sheriff's deputy was charged Friday with 18 counts of criminal sexual conduct, authorities said.

According to the criminal complaint in Stearns County District Court, Meemken sexually abused three juveniles. None of the alleged incidents occurred while Meemken was on duty, authorities said.

PAMELA MILLER

No arrests and no suspects in Minneapolis double shooting No suspects have been arrested in a Thursday night shooting that left two men wounded, Minneapolis police said on Friday.

The shooting happened late Thursday in the 3500 block of Emerson Avenue N.

One of the victims, 23-year-old Deparo James of Minneapolis, was shot in the lower back, while Brandon Fisher, 22, of Columbia Heights, was hit in the left leg, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Bill Palmer.

SARAH LEMAGIE

Faribault woman missing after car plunges into Cannon River A woman from Faribault, Minn., is missing after the car she was riding in crashed into the Cannon River.

Brittney Landsverk, 21, had been pulled from the water by another passenger, but slipped back in and was swept away by the current. The search for her will resume Saturday.

The crash was reported north of Faribault around 5:15 a.m. Friday. The driver was traveling through private property when the car went over the riverbank sideways.

The driver, Mitchell Bongers, 21, was in critical condition late Friday at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. Two other passengers were not hurt.

Alcohol, speed called factors in fatal ATV crash in Wisconsin A man from Green Bay, Wis., died late Thursday in an ATV crash that left a second person with serious injuries, authorities said.

The Marinette County Sheriff's Department said the accident happened on private property in the town of Athelstane.

Jesse J. Wojcik, 33, was driving an ATV that flipped when he made a turn. Wojcik was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

Deputies said alcohol and excessive speed were factors in the crash.