Charges Filed In H.S. Football Player's Death After Party

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Charges have been filed against a number of people – including a father and son – in connection to the death of a Dawson teenager who fled an underage drinking party and died of hypothermia, the Lac qui Parle County Attorney's Office announced Monday.

The incident happened on March 9 after the Lac Qui Parle Sheriff's Office was called to the 2700 block of 280th Street at about 12:30 a.m. in rural Madison, Minn., on an underage party with alcohol. About 20 vehicles were parked on a farm site and when authorities arrived, 18-year-old Michael Anyasike was one of many to flee the scene.

He went missing and was found 12 hours later about a mile from where the party took place. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. He played football for Dawson-Boyd and was planning on attending St. John's University.

WCCO's Angela Davis spoke to Anyasike's mother the day after his body was found.

"He was a happy person all the time. He had a smile on his face and he loved his friends and he loved football," she said.

Now, Lac qui Parle County Attorney Richard Stulz says 19-year-old Erik Hastad turned himself in and was charged with a gross misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Both he and his father, 59-year-old Gary Hastad, were charged with violating the social host ordinance.

Authorities are alleging that Hastad, who has prior minor consumption convictions, held the party and his father -- who wasn't present during the party -- "should have known what was going on."

The others charged include: 20-year-old Derek Rodeberg of Montevideo, 20-year-old Zachary Flickinger of Madison, Minn., 19-year-old Kaitlin Rae Johnshoy of Dawson, 19-year-old Matthew Stratmoen of Dawson, 18-year-old Ethan Young of Floodwood and 19-year-old Austin Olson of Appleton. They were all charged with fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle and underage consumption. Their BAC levels ranged from 0.18 to 0.177.

Hastad was expected to appear in court and be released on recognizance subject to standard conditions late Monday morning. The others are scheduled to appear on April 7.