“Vigilante” farmer, 74, charged after chasing thief

[Piggybank Cop]

He faces more serious charges than thief after holding man at gunpoint
The Associated Press
Updated: 11:30 a.m. ET Feb 2, 2007

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. - A farmer who chased down a thief and held him at gunpoint until authorities arrived now faces a more serious charge than the thief himself.

Kenneth Englund, 74, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The thief, who the sheriff said admitted stealing about $5 worth of gasoline from Englund’s neighbor, was charged with misdemeanor theft.

Sheriff Mike Ammend said people can’t take the law into their own hands, and that Englund’s actions were “an invitation to a shootout. There’s so many things that could have gone wrong here.”

On Oct. 15, Englund pointed a gun at Christian Harris Smith, 28, and a woman at the vacant farm next to Englund’s place in Bradford Township. He then chased their vehicle at speeds of 70 mph, according to the criminal complaint. A 3-year-old child was in the vehicle.

During the chase, Englund used a cell phone to call the sheriff’s office and asked if he should “blow them away,” according to the complaint. His shotgun turned out to be unloaded.

Prosecutor: charge fits the facts
Englund, a Township Board member for 37 years, pleaded not guilty, was released without having to post bail and is to return to court Feb. 22.

Smith was charged with another theft and was held in the county jail on a felony warrant from another state.

Prosecutor Dan Conlin said no one is looking to put Englund in jail. He said the charge fits the facts, but the case doesn’t need to be resolved as a felony.

More than 350 people attended a fundraising dinner for Englund last month and a petition has circulated supporting him.

Bradford Township, about 45 miles north of Minneapolis, does not have a police force, and Englund said criminals can escape by the time a deputy arrives from Cambridge, 15 miles away.

What a crock of shit.

[Ducky]

And people wonder why there are so many criminals out there, people who would try to stop them wind up in trouble too.

[oldtrooper]

+1

[Watchman]

Funny how different it can be in the antigun states.

Here in Arkansas the farmer would have been publickly thanked by the Sheriff, had his hand shaken numerous times by all involved and given a gift certificate to the Western Sizzlin for being a "good citizen".

[conalabu]

No way they will convict on that.














never mind, what was I thinking? Probably get twenty years for that.

[Piggybank Cop]

He’s not a Vigilante he’s the militia.



ps: Ain’t it hell when your prosecutors are scum sucking bottom feeder liberal pos lawyers too?

[10-42Adam]

That's some bullshit...

[Star Man]

Ain’t it hell when your prosecutors are scum sucking bottom feeder liberal pos lawyers too?

Wait a GD MINUTE there !sgkelly!!!! Get your facts straight!







Isnt that the definition of ALL lawyers???? HEHEE They are all scum sucking POS lawyers,,,,, who want to drop as many difficult or non-home run cases to keep their conviction % as high as possible to get the private practice job ASAP. It's a wonder we win ANY cases when we train them to go to the dark side and fight for the defendant against some fresh out of law school rookie assistant state attorneys.