Whose fingers were really found at the campground in East Grand Forks?

EGFPD has documented history of lying about Minnesota BCA crime lab  

by Timothy Charles Holmseth on October 31, 2016, 11:36 A.M. CST

The East Grand Forks Police Department (EGFPD) has yet to provide the public any evidence the human fingers found sitting on a picnic table at the local campground have actually been matched to anybody using DNA.

And...

The EGFPD has a documented history of blatantly lying about the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) crime lab.

On October 24, 2016 the EGFPD acknowledged a formal request by Write Into Action for public records regarding the case.

“I am requesting all public records regarding the case of the two human fingers found on a picnic table at the campground. This includes all information received by the Minnesota BCA that is in the EGFPD files. This includes the information received from the BCA regarding DNA testing on the fingers” the request said.

“Your request has been received and is currently being reviewed by the city attorney to determine if this information can be released.  We will respond to your request asap.  Thank you for your patience,” said Michael Hedlund, chief of police, EGFPD.

EGF Police Chief Michael Hedlund

Ronald Galstad is the EGF city attorney that is reviewing the request.

Questions are now swirling over why Hedlund’s department is reluctant to turn over the records, which he based a national press release upon.

On August 25, 2016, Forum News Service reported in the Grand Forks Herald and Twin Cities Pioneer Press that EGFPD Lt. Rodney Hajicek and Det. Tony Hart determined the case had been “solved” using “DNA”. The police assert the fingers belong to a man that had a fireworks accident.

The fingers had been sent to the Minnesota BCA lab for testing.

“Today East Grand Forks police received confirmation that those fingers did belong to a gentleman who severely injured his hand in a fireworks accident,” WDAZ TV reported.

However – the Hedlund won’t show the records that constitute the supposed “confirmation”.

And – a careful reading of the press release by the police contains no statement declaring an actual DNA match ever occurred.  

LT. RODNEY HAJICEK AND CITY ATTORNEY RONALD GALSTAD - DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF LYING ABOUT BCA

Lt. Rodney Hajicek and EGF City Attorney Ronald Galstad have a documented history of conspiring to lie about their association with the BCA.

In 2012, Galstad, Hajicek, and EGFPD officer Aeisso Schrage (Narcotics Task Force Commander), conspired to use the Minnesota Pine to Prairie Gang and Drug Force to raid Timothy Charles Holmseth’s (Write Into Action) home-office and seize his computer and files.  

The police and city attorney created a full spectrum appearance that the BCA was involved.  

Galstad told State District Judge Tamara Yon in open court the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was involved and that he was in communication with the agency.

“I’ve just been notified that the BCA, before they’ll do a forensic search of that computer, wants either an order of this Court or a search warrant that says that they can - -  we got the original search warrant, but for whatever reason the BCA wants something that says that they can actually search that hard-drive. So I am going to be either, one, asking - - or requesting an additional warrant for forensic search of that computer hard-drive or the Court can make that Order as they see fit, but I am going to be doing that,” Galstad told Judge Yon.

Galstad was referring to the BCA because Schrage and Hajicek placed BCA evidence stickers on Holmseth’s seized property.

Holmseth contacted the BCA and learned the state agency knew nothing about the case whatsoever.

 “The BCA had no role in the investigation you describe and did not attach any tags to evidence in that case,” said Jill Oliveira, public information officer, Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

“We were not requested to conduct a forensic examination on your computer", said Drew Evans, assistant superintendent, BCA.

Holmseth had committed no crime and no charges were ever filed. Hedlund’s department kept no Chain of Evidence logs for the property and when it was returned by order of the court the hard-drive had been destroyed.

DRUG TRAFFICKING

Write Into Action is investigating whether or not there is any connection between the ‘two fingers’ found at the campground and the ‘two fingers’ shot off the hand of David James Elliott by a police officer in the February, 2015 shooting.

Although Altru hospital doctors reportedly re-attached Elliott’s fingers after he was shot by a UND police officer that was out of his jurisdiction; the gruesome specter of the severed fingers could possibly be a message sent out by the criminal underworld.
 
There exists staggering amounts of evidence that shows UND police officer Jerad Braaten was acting as a ‘hit-man’ when he interjected himself into the slow speed pursuit of Elliott.

Police cam evidence and recordings reveal Elliott was not fleeing the police; rather, he was trying to stay away from specific officers that were trying to kill him.

Following the Elliott shooting, Braaten was reprimanded by UND police chief Eric Plummer for actions he took regarding his cam evidence (some vanished - some was found hidden underneath his UND squad car). However - Grand Forks Police Chief Mark Nelson hired Braaten onto his Department only a few months later.

The GFPD has chimed in on the fingers case to support the perception of a fireworks accident.

"The lesson from the incident is that fireworks are dangerous and should be handled properly and with care", Grand Forks police Lt. Derik Zimmel told the media.

Prove it up boys.

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