Saturday, May 16, 2026

An 18-year-old Little Falls man has been charged after authorities allege he assaulted school staff and students at Little Falls Community High School, Thursday, May 14. Mitchell James Erlacher Jr. is charged in Morrison County District Court with one felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and two misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree assault. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and/or a $14,000 fine. According to the criminal complaint, the Little Falls Police Department received a report May 14 that an 18-year-old student was assaulting staff and students at the high school. Witnesses told police Erlacher allegedly approached a teacher, placed her in a headlock, pulled her hair and shoved her against a wall. A student then intervened and separated the two, according to the complaint. Authorities allege Erlacher then became physically aggressive toward the student, took him to the floor, pulled the student’s sweatshirt over his head, restricted his ability to breathe and attempted to strike him in the face. The student told police Erlacher bit both of his arms while the student was holding Erlacher’s arms to prevent being punched. The complaint states another school official intervened and removed Erlacher from the student. Authorities allege Erlacher then went to a teacher’s desk, grabbed a pair of scissors and advanced toward the school official while holding them. The school official told police he repeatedly ordered Erlacher to drop the scissors while retreating into an adjoining room and closing the door. According to the complaint, Erlacher allegedly forced the door partially open and stabbed the school official in the hand with the scissors through the doorway. The school official told police he believed he was stabbed a second time near the shoulder area during the struggle before he was able to force the door shut. Multiple law enforcement officers arrived and attempted to get Erlacher to leave the room. When he did not comply with commands, officers were able to subdue him, according to the complaint.

A 22-year-old from Mora has died in an two-vehicle accident Friday around 3:15pm on Highway 23 of Kanabec County. Kevin McGruder was westbound and crossed the center line into the eastbound lane and struck a vehicle head on. McGruder was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. The other driver from Brook Park was not injured. 

A 54-year-old from New Brighton was injured early Saturday morning on Interstate 94 in Douglas County when his box truck swerved to avoid a deer, left the road and rolled. Rasimo Yadeta was taken to the Alexandria Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.