Vigilante farmer, 74, in more trouble than thief

Vigilante farmer, 74, in more trouble than thief CAMBRIDGE, Minn. — A 74-year-old man who chased down a thief and held him at gunpoint until authorities arrived now faces a charge more serious than the thief himself.

Kenneth Englund, an Isanti County farmer and Township Board member for 37 years, is charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The thief, who the sheriff said admitted stealing about $5 in 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. 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.

Englund pleaded not guilty, was released without bail and is scheduled 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.

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

Still, Ammend said, there was danger, especially since a woman and child were in the vehicle: “What happens if there was a crash?”

Chief Deputy County Attorney Dan Conlin said no one is looking to put Englund in jail, calling that idea “silly.” He also said while the charge fits the facts of the case, it doesn’t need to be resolved as a felony.

People who use force to protect property haven’t always fared well in court.

In a 1983 case, a jury ruled that a Holloway man should pay $77,000 to a burglar he chased down and shot in the foot. The case was settled for half that or less; the burglar got probation.

In 1999, a Red Wing man received six months in jail after he booby-trapped his Wisconsin cabin and injured a burglar. According to media reports, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld $30,000 in damages against the owner of a booby-trapped abandoned farmhouse in 1978, and a California homeowner was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon when his spring gun shot a teenage burglar in 1974.

In Englund’s case, some of his neighbors who are concerned about rising crime have been his supporters.

Richard Hansen, chairman of the Bradford Township Board, said crime has risen so much that board meetings have drawn crowds of about 50 people, and a committee was formed to meet with the sheriff and county attorney. The township, about 45 miles north of Minneapolis, does not have a police force.

Barbara Ford, of Ham Lake, who owns the land where the theft took place, said she’s had attempted break-ins.

“I’ll do anything I can to support Mr. Englund,” she said.

Englund said criminals can escape by the time a deputy arrives from Cambridge, the county seat, about 14 miles away.

The sheriff said his department is understaffed — with 14 deputies to patrol 440 miles of roads.

“We want people’s help, we need their help (calling with information), but we don’t want people taking the law into their own hands,” he said.

They chose to drive 70 mph with their kid in the car to ecape capture for a crime they commited,and it's the old property owners fault because he follower them at their own chosen speed !!!!! Some people really need a butt kicking here and it ain't the old property owner.

The criminal element out there today has no conscience, no morals, no values, and no regard for human life, and is many times motivated by drugs or at a whim, due to the need to steal, instead of working like the rest of us.

I can understand, to a degree, why it may not be a good idea to boobytrap, and or do things similar, with the intent to engage a person who may be perpetrating a crime on ones property, and can understand that the laws are in place to protect an innocent person from getting caught in a trap etc., but what rights do you have to protect yourself ? The people that commit crimes today are unpredictable, just the same as that booby trap, and many of these people are violent, so there is no time to distinguish who is going to try and kill you or who is just a non violent petty thief.

As far as I am concerned, anyone and I mean anyone who crosses the threshold of my home, property and or remotely located farm buildings, is considered to be the worst of what is out there and will be dealt with in a manner that puts me in the position of least risk. If one can avoid engaging a criminal discovered on ones property, having the upper hand by detecting them first, so be it, however what if you are suprised or invaded in the middle of the night, then you have no choice, none at all, and you must defend yourself first, or risk what a perpetrator might do to you, and that is a huge unknown and can be from simple assault to murder, how do you know what they will or will not do, do you wait until you end up left on the floor with a fractured skull, shot or whatever may be potentially coming your way, somehow you have to be able to defend yourself and protect yourself from potential injury or death at the hands of a criminal. If you lay down, and submit, you could end up in a casket, or a coma, so you'll never make it to a court room anyway. I am of the firm opinion that one must take appropriate action to protect ones life and limb, if a situation arises the puts you at risk, you must get the upperhand first and deal with any consequences later, be it criminal charges against you. I'd rather submit myself to a court proceeding than to a criminal's actions anyday.

It is obvious that acting as a vigilante is not a preferrable thing to do, nor is engaging a criminal, but I am talking about the situation where you have no choice. It happens, you never know when it could, but it does, I have dealt with being assaulted by a known criminal and did what I had to do, which resulted in the assailant being literally scraped up off the sidewalk with serious injuries, by EMT's, he was fueled up on cocaine, and was one nasty individual, had I not done what I did, I'd have been the one on the stretcher. I was charged with a crime, it cost me $600.00, the charge was dropped in the court proceedings, the assailant had a long criminal record, and had been before the judge many times before. Put me in the same position, getting bum rushed by a criminal in the dark again, and I'd do the same, one has no choice but to protect ones self, this guy was lucky he lived, he had no idea what he was getting into when he decided to make me a target that night, and I had no choice but to defend myself from serious injury, with no time to even think of anything else but self defense.

I lost a good friend who worked at a gas station in NJ, he was practically part owner of a long established business in a great middle class neighborhood, he did quite well working there, it was close to a highway, I used to visit everyday after work, help out sometimes etc., the murderer, came to the station, asked for directions, pulled out a handgun, demanded money, and wasted him at point blank range, shot him in the head in front of witnesses, and the owner of the place, without any hesitation. Joe died instantly, and this criminal caused such grief to his family and friends, this murderer had no regard for human life, but will get his even if he's never caught. So quickly it happens, and the murderer has never been and probably will never be found, so it's a real pleasure knowing this guy is among us, and he's not the only one out there, so with that in mind, anyone who approaches can be a danger, it's the way it is today, you must be educated and prepared as to what to do, or you could be laying in a pool of blood very quickly. There is no time to consider the legal impacts of your actions sometimes, the real problem is being able to quickly recognize a situation like what happened to Joe, and knowing how to deal with it. He was caught by surprise and probably had little chance, and he was a big capable guy, I'll never forget him and what happened that day, just goes to show you what is out there and what does happen in todays society.

I hate to be so cynical and seemingly paranoid etc., but with the reality of how things are today, what choice do you have now, it certainly raises one important issue, and it does appear that the criminal still has more rights than the victim, lots of room for discussion too.

Yeah, I'm still trying to get across that DOT annual audit thingy..... :>(

Allan

Only in America can a drug dealer get more time than someone who commits murder.

T_Bone

How can it be a shootout if only one side has a gun?

Still, Ammend said, there was danger, especially since a woman and child were in the vehicle: “What happens if there was a crash?”

Maybe, just maybe, we should look at the driver of the getaway vehicle on this. The facts are:
1. He was stealing.
2. When caught, he was not man enough to stand and take responsibility for his actions.
3. The chances are very high that, had Mr. Englund gotten the plate number and dropped the chase, the thief would have continued his high-speed flight.

Mr. Englund did nothing wrong. I think he should get at least a small reward for performing a community service.

If he had gotten the plate and called the cops they would not have never bothered. Very seldom do the police act on small property crimes. They act pissed off when I call them out to report stolen and vandalized equipment.

Gary

We make frequent drive bys to patrol when we are passing, going to town for sporting events, store, feed, parts, church, etc..... .

My wife and children on their way home from church on a wednesday last summer patrolled. They saw a car parked in front of the building. She called the sheriff for theft in progress. She went on by down the 1/2 mile deadend culdesac and turned around. She had already gotten my 12 y/o daughter to write down the plates.

She then called me and said get over here. Then the idiots started chasing her as she drove back by down the road. They chased her about 2 miles and scared her and my children to death. I by then was on the road but did not catch up to them.

Since I had the plate number, I waited and waited and 35 minutes the county sheriff made it there.

They stole a couple extension cords, light, I believe they were interrupted or would have gotten more.

The next night my neighbor and I were on stakeout. I was sitting in the woods on my horse. He was sitting at his house waiting for my call.

930pm, wife and kids come by to bring me a water bottle. We are sitting there and a car comes down the road. Since its a dead end and I own the entire road, the county does not, its my road. I told my wife and kids to get up to the barn and stay back.

I had a pistol and shotgun ready for action. Not to mention a rechargeable 1Meg candlepower spotlight.

I had my wife park the car across the road, contacted my neighbor and before they came back they had to stop in the road.

They stopped, I rode out of the timber up to the car and light them up with my spotlight.

It was a young man and girl. The same car plates that chased my wife. I asked him if he knew anything about such an incident and he said oh my no, sorry to hear about that.

I had my bluetooth headset on and my phone with the dispatcher at the county sheriffs dept already on line, they were listening to the conversation with an officer in route.

I then tore into that little punk and without expletives informed him he best stay in the car as he was going to have his hands full if he did.

I never once told him I had a gun, never threatened him, just informed him if he thought he could whip too fellas he could get on out.

I could see there were no guns within reach and little did he know I had a pistol pointing right at him with my finger on the trigger.

My horse is not shy to guns so no worries there.

I explained to the kid I knew he was lying about chasing my wife and endangering my kids. I explained I knew he was the thief, I knew he was going to be prosecuted.

He then decided to take off through the ditch, around the car, spun gravel all over me and my horse. I bailed off the horse, jumped in my car and my neighbor in his trusty Ford Farm Truck took chase.

My wife held the horse and the kids waited as the sheriff was still 20 minutes out.

I was giving the play by play to the dispatcher with my wireless bluetooth, roads, etc..... ..

We chased for about 2 miles and pinned him on a corner. By then you can imagine our anxiety and anger. I was fuming, I wanted to beat that kid but I didn't.

I told him if he moved I was done playing, I was either going to beat him within an inch of his life or put a gun in his hand after I killed him.

He decided to be still and sit in his car.

Sheriff came, arrested him, found a lock box in the trunk, the kid had no idea how it got in there, it was full of drugs, pot.

I never got my cords back or light as he knew nothing about them. Probably sold them for cash for some drugs.

He was 20, the sheriff never said a word to me about chasing him, he just said man you scared the $#!+ out of them. I said GOOD!!! Maybe he got my point then.

The dispatcher applauded me for not shooting or beating him, and they asked if there were guns at the scene.

The dispatcher was good at talking to me and keeping me calm and from shooting him.

I said yes, I and my neighbor are armed, but none drawn, and informed her who was who before the sheriff arrived so he would not be worried about guns etc.

IF there ever comes a day when I cannot defend my family, my home, my property, we all may as well crawl in a hole.

The sheriffs dept knows they cannot get to us in a short period of time so we have to be able to protect ourselves. They are clear about us taking the law into our own hands though.

From start to arrival was 40 minutes for the sheriff to get there.

Since this incident I have had no other problems. Either word got out that I was a rascal or that kid was the only one stealing.

I did run off two others that I caught sitting on the property and chased another in a truck for a few miles.

I have some blanks loaded in my shotgun with bean bag pellets for excitement that accidently went off for some reason, they are unpredictible.

One bunch of kids got stuck on my property 4 wheeling in a couple pickups last spring and lost their wallet trying to get one pulled out.

I had a great conversation with the kids dad. The dad was very surprised I called and very protective. He said his son would not have been on my property and wanted to know how I had determined this.

I said hmmmm, your son is such a wonderful young man, maybe he wouldnt. But I have proof, he said oh..... .I said I have a wallet that belongs to him and if you all want it back, you all have some repairs to do at my place!!!

I had the sheriff out to supervise the visit and we got everything handled, the father was embarassed, mad at his son, and appologetic.

I said I wouldnt press any charges if his son and buddies would take care of the damage to my likings but if anyone of them survived their next trespass, I would prosecute them.

I will always protect my COUNTRY, my FAMILY, my HOME, my property!!!

IF things were like the old days and we lynched folks and prosecuted them instead of writing laws to protect the guilty, there wouldnt be so much crime period!!!

Okay im off my soapbox now, NEXT!!!

We make frequent drive bys to patrol when we are passing, going to town for sporting events, store, feed, parts, church, etc..... .

My wife and children on their way home from church on a wednesday last summer patrolled. They saw a car parked in front of the building. She called the sheriff for theft in progress. She went on by down the 1/2 mile deadend culdesac and turned around. She had already gotten my 12 y/o daughter to write down the plates.

She then called me and said get over here. Then the idiots started chasing her as she drove back by down the road. They chased her about 2 miles and scared her and my children to death. I by then was on the road but did not catch up to them.

Since I had the plate number, I waited and waited and 35 minutes the county sheriff made it there.

They stole a couple extension cords, light, I believe they were interrupted or would have gotten more.

The next night my neighbor and I were on stakeout. I was sitting in the woods on my horse. He was sitting at his house waiting for my call.

930pm, wife and kids come by to bring me a water bottle. We are sitting there and a car comes down the road. Since its a dead end and I own the entire road, the county does not, its my road. I told my wife and kids to get up to the barn and stay back.

I had a pistol and shotgun ready for action. Not to mention a rechargeable 1Meg candlepower spotlight.

I had my wife park the car across the road, contacted my neighbor and before they came back they had to stop in the road.

They stopped, I rode out of the timber up to the car and light them up with my spotlight.

It was a young man and girl. The same car plates that chased my wife. I asked him if he knew anything about such an incident and he said oh my no, sorry to hear about that.

I had my bluetooth headset on and my phone with the dispatcher at the county sheriffs dept already on line, they were listening to the conversation with an officer in route.

I then tore into that little punk and without expletives informed him he best stay in the car as he was going to have his hands full if he did.

I never once told him I had a gun, never threatened him, just informed him if he thought he could whip too fellas he could get on out.

I could see there were no guns within reach and little did he know I had a pistol pointing right at him with my finger on the trigger.

My horse is not shy to guns so no worries there.

I explained to the kid I knew he was lying about chasing my wife and endangering my kids. I explained I knew he was the thief, I knew he was going to be prosecuted.

He then decided to take off through the ditch, around the car, spun gravel all over me and my horse. I bailed off the horse, jumped in my car and my neighbor in his trusty Ford Farm Truck took chase.

My wife held the horse and the kids waited as the sheriff was still 20 minutes out.

I was giving the play by play to the dispatcher with my wireless bluetooth, roads, etc..... ..

We chased for about 2 miles and pinned him on a corner. By then you can imagine our anxiety and anger. I was fuming, I wanted to beat that kid but I didn't.

I told him if he moved I was done playing, I was either going to beat him within an inch of his life or put a gun in his hand after I killed him.

He decided to be still and sit in his car.

Sheriff came, arrested him, found a lock box in the trunk, the kid had no idea how it got in there, it was full of drugs, pot.

I never got my cords back or light as he knew nothing about them. Probably sold them for cash for some drugs.

He was 20, the sheriff never said a word to me about chasing him, he just said man you scared the $#!+ out of them. I said GOOD!!! Maybe he got my point then.

The dispatcher applauded me for not shooting or beating him, and they asked if there were guns at the scene.

The dispatcher was good at talking to me and keeping me calm and from shooting him.

I said yes, I and my neighbor are armed, but none drawn, and informed her who was who before the sheriff arrived so he would not be worried about guns etc.

IF there ever comes a day when I cannot defend my family, my home, my property, we all may as well crawl in a hole.

The sheriffs dept knows they cannot get to us in a short period of time so we have to be able to protect ourselves. They are clear about us taking the law into our own hands though.

From start to arrival was 40 minutes for the sheriff to get there.

Since this incident I have had no other problems. Either word got out that I was a rascal or that kid was the only one stealing.

I did run off two others that I caught sitting on the property and chased another in a truck for a few miles.

I have some blanks loaded in my shotgun with bean bag pellets for excitement that accidently went off for some reason, they are unpredictible.

One bunch of kids got stuck on my property 4 wheeling in a couple pickups last spring and lost their wallet trying to get one pulled out.

I had a great conversation with the kids dad. The dad was very surprised I called and very protective. He said his son would not have been on my property and wanted to know how I had determined this.

I said hmmmm, your son is such a wonderful young man, maybe he wouldnt. But I have proof, he said oh..... .I said I have a wallet that belongs to him and if you all want it back, you all have some repairs to do at my place!!!

I had the sheriff out to supervise the visit and we got everything handled, the father was embarassed, mad at his son, and appologetic.

I said I wouldnt press any charges if his son and buddies would take care of the damage to my likings but if anyone of them survived their next trespass, I would prosecute them.

I will always protect my COUNTRY, my FAMILY, my HOME, my property!!!

IF things were like the old days and we lynched folks and prosecuted them instead of writing laws to protect the guilty, there wouldnt be so much crime period!!!

Okay im off my soapbox now, NEXT!!!

We make frequent drive bys to patrol when we are passing, going to town for sporting events, store, feed, parts, church, etc..... .

My wife and children on their way home from church on a wednesday last summer patrolled. They saw a car parked in front of the building. She called the sheriff for theft in progress. She went on by down the 1/2 mile deadend culdesac and turned around. She had already gotten my 12 y/o daughter to write down the plates.

She then called me and said get over here. Then the idiots started chasing her as she drove back by down the road. They chased her about 2 miles and scared her and my children to death. I by then was on the road but did not catch up to them.

Since I had the plate number, I waited and waited and 35 minutes the county sheriff made it there.

They stole a couple extension cords, light, I believe they were interrupted or would have gotten more.

The next night my neighbor and I were on stakeout. I was sitting in the woods on my horse. He was sitting at his house waiting for my call.

930pm, wife and kids come by to bring me a water bottle. We are sitting there and a car comes down the road. Since its a dead end and I own the entire road, the county does not, its my road. I told my wife and kids to get up to the barn and stay back.

I had a pistol and shotgun ready for action. Not to mention a rechargeable 1Meg candlepower spotlight.

I had my wife park the car across the road, contacted my neighbor and before they came back they had to stop in the road.

They stopped, I rode out of the timber up to the car and light them up with my spotlight.

It was a young man and girl. The same car plates that chased my wife. I asked him if he knew anything about such an incident and he said oh my no, sorry to hear about that.

I had my bluetooth headset on and my phone with the dispatcher at the county sheriffs dept already on line, they were listening to the conversation with an officer in route.

I then tore into that little punk and without expletives informed him he best stay in the car as he was going to have his hands full if he did.

I never once told him I had a gun, never threatened him, just informed him if he thought he could whip too fellas he could get on out.

I could see there were no guns within reach and little did he know I had a pistol pointing right at him with my finger on the trigger.

My horse is not shy to guns so no worries there.

I explained to the kid I knew he was lying about chasing my wife and endangering my kids. I explained I knew he was the thief, I knew he was going to be prosecuted.

He then decided to take off through the ditch, around the car, spun gravel all over me and my horse. I bailed off the horse, jumped in my car and my neighbor in his trusty Ford Farm Truck took chase.

My wife held the horse and the kids waited as the sheriff was still 20 minutes out.

I was giving the play by play to the dispatcher with my wireless bluetooth, roads, etc..... ..

We chased for about 2 miles and pinned him on a corner. By then you can imagine our anxiety and anger. I was fuming, I wanted to beat that kid but I didn't.

I told him if he moved I was done playing, I was either going to beat him within an inch of his life or put a gun in his hand after I killed him.

He decided to be still and sit in his car.

Sheriff came, arrested him, found a lock box in the trunk, the kid had no idea how it got in there, it was full of drugs, pot.

I never got my cords back or light as he knew nothing about them. Probably sold them for cash for some drugs.

He was 20, the sheriff never said a word to me about chasing him, he just said man you scared the $#!+ out of them. I said GOOD!!! Maybe he got my point then.

The dispatcher applauded me for not shooting or beating him, and they asked if there were guns at the scene.

The dispatcher was good at talking to me and keeping me calm and from shooting him.

I said yes, I and my neighbor are armed, but none drawn, and informed her who was who before the sheriff arrived so he would not be worried about guns etc.

IF there ever comes a day when I cannot defend my family, my home, my property, we all may as well crawl in a hole.

The sheriffs dept knows they cannot get to us in a short period of time so we have to be able to protect ourselves. They are clear about us taking the law into our own hands though.

From start to arrival was 40 minutes for the sheriff to get there.

Since this incident I have had no other problems. Either word got out that I was a rascal or that kid was the only one stealing.

I did run off two others that I caught sitting on the property and chased another in a truck for a few miles.

I have some blanks loaded in my shotgun with bean bag pellets for excitement that accidently went off for some reason, they are unpredictible.

One bunch of kids got stuck on my property 4 wheeling in a couple pickups last spring and lost their wallet trying to get one pulled out.

I had a great conversation with the kids dad. The dad was very surprised I called and very protective. He said his son would not have been on my property and wanted to know how I had determined this.

I said hmmmm, your son is such a wonderful young man, maybe he wouldnt. But I have proof, he said oh..... .I said I have a wallet that belongs to him and if you all want it back, you all have some repairs to do at my place!!!

I had the sheriff out to supervise the visit and we got everything handled, the father was embarassed, mad at his son, and appologetic.

I said I wouldnt press any charges if his son and buddies would take care of the damage to my likings but if anyone of them survived their next trespass, I would prosecute them.

I will always protect my COUNTRY, my FAMILY, my HOME, my property!!!

IF things were like the old days and we lynched folks and prosecuted them instead of writing laws to protect the guilty, there wouldnt be so much crime period!!!

Okay im off my soapbox now, NEXT!!!