Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Disorderly conduct charges have been filed in Chisago County District Court against a Wyoming councilman and two neighbors following a residential dispute Oct. 7.

City Councilman Thomas W. LaBarre, 40, of 27360 Felton Ave. and neighbors Lucas John Tellin, 27, 27340 Felton Ave. and Melinda Kay Donovan, 36, of 116 NE 8th Ave., Forest Lake, were all ticketed by a Chisago County deputy sheriff last week.

Police were called to Tellin’s home on Oct. 7 after a dispute ensued over allegations that leaves were being blown from the Tellin property to the LaBarre property. The two parties also argued over Tellin’s horseshoe pit that may be on LaBarre’s property.

The initial call for the disturbance went to the Wyoming Police Department, but the call was turned over to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office to avoid any conflict of interest, because of LaBarre’s status as an elected official.

According to police reports, the issues of leaves and the horseshoe pit are only part of the trouble between the two men.

LaBarre has accused Tellin of operating a used car lot out of his home and has pushed the issue before the city council, with attempts to pass an ordinance that would greatly restrict the number of vehicles that could be sold from residential property each year.

After interviewing the parties in the case, tickets were handed down to all three adults. The misdemeanor disorderly conduct citations are for the alleged use of profanity and aggressive demeanor, according to police reports.

LaBarre, Tellin and Donovan were all told they would have to testify in court because police did not witness the alleged crimes.

Donovan, who lists a Forest Lake address as her legal address, lists a secondary address at the Tellin home where she has been living.

On Oct. 8, Tellin filed a court petition seeking a harassment restraining order against LaBarre.

Motorists fight

One man went to the hospital and a second man went to jail after a fight involving two motorists in Forest Lake last Friday.

Police were called to 1650 S. Lake St. at 10:50 a.m. after two men saw a verbal exchange mushroom into a fist fight, according to Forest Lake Police Department reports. The two drivers were attempting to cross US-61 to the east at the Mainstreet Bank and Allina Clinic crossing when the verbal dispute over who had the right-of-way started, police said.

After getting out of their cars to argue, punches flew, police said.

Terrance G. Peterson, 45, of 26447 Freeport Ave., Wyoming, was arrested and taken to jail on probable cause of third-degree assault, fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

James P. Parker, 53, of 550 N. 3rd Ave., Virginia, was taken to Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming where he was treated for facial injuries, police said.

FL man dies

A 53-year-old Forest Lake man died at his home sometime late Friday or early Saturday while working on an old car.

Chief of Police Clark Quiring said officers were called to 20800 Ingersoll Ave. N. at 1 p.m. Saturday where they found the body of Thomas Carpender. He was found in a pasture area about 100 yards from the home where he had been working on a 1958 Chevrolet, the chief said.

Quiring said Carpender was last seen on Friday afternoon. Family members who returned home late Friday assumed he had left home to go north, the chief said. When a telephone from the home could not be found on Saturday, Quiring said Carpender’s wife Barbara was able to locate the telephone near where her husband had died.

He had driven his truck to the area where he was working which was behind a stand of trees and not visible from the house. Carpender has a number of antique Chevrolets which he had been working to restore, the chief said.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, the chief said.

Other reports

A bicyclist suffered leg injuries and was taken to the Wyoming hospital after he was hit by a car while crossing SW 12th St. at SW 3rd Ave. on Monday. Lance Vanwagner, 33, of 844 SW 3rd Ave. was hit by a car driven by an 84-year-old Forest Lake resident, who was eastbound and turning south on 12th St.

Two more vehicles were also involved. After hitting Vanwagner, the woman went on to strike a northbound car that was stopped at the light on 12th Street. She continued traveling south, losing control, driving over the sidewalk and hitting a car in the Target parking lot.

The crash remains under investigation.

Police in Forest Lake are also investigating a forced-entry burglary reported at 7:09 a.m. Tuesday at Hursh Cabinet Shop, 55 SW 7th Ave. Cabinet making tools were stolen. The burglary is under investigation.

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