2 Teens Arrested In Calf Thefts In Central Minnesota
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (WCCO) -- In their cozy little plastic pens, laying atop beds of fresh straw, dairy farmer Jim Scherer has his calves back where they belong. Three of his Holstein calves were stolen from his Freeport farm on Nov. 28, becoming the latest in a string of thefts from central Minnesota dairy farms.
"I actually can't believe we got 'em back to be honest with you. I wrote them off as being gone," said Scherer.
He's among a handful of farmers in Stearns, Todd and Douglas Counties whose 17 Holstein calves began disappearing the weekend of Nov. 20. Stearns County investigators now believe they know who was responsible.
Information led deputies in Wilkin County to a farm in rural Rothsay, where they discovered the missing calves.
Police then arrested 19-year-old Jesse Ronsberg, along with a 16-year-old boy from nearby Barnsville, who was later released to his parents.
"From our investigators and speaking with them and obtaining statements from them, the basic story is they wanted to start their own small cattle operation," said Stearns County Sheriff's Department Lt. Jon Lentz
Lenz says a suspicious farmer called Stearns County investigators after hearing about the thefts. The informant directed deputies to the Rothsay farm because of its sudden increase in the number of calves.
Apparently, the thieves tried to cover-up the crime by attaching new ear tags onto each calf. Some of those tags included hand-written numbers along with names.
"Yeah, it's quite the deal," chuckled Jim Scherer.
Scherer said his calves were returned last night in excellent health -- considering what they've been through. However, his calves now bear the new names, Ethel, Janelle and Sleepy Eye.
Scherer doubts the names will stick.
He says he's still puzzled at what motivated the two thieves and added, "apparently, they couldn't afford them. It doesn't make much sense to me because calves aren't that spendy right now."
The cases will be turned over to the various County Attorneys who are likely to charge the suspected "cattle rustlers" with aggravated theft.
WCCO-TV's Bill Hudson Reports
