Officials: Hennepin Co. Sheriff's Son Charged With Criminal Damage
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The adult son of a Hennepin County sheriff is facing charges of criminal damage to property in a Hennepin Co. park.
Ryan James Stanek, 21, has been charged with three counts of criminal damage to property in the third degree.
According to the criminal complaint, officers from the West Hennepin Public Safety Department were sent to the Three Rivers Park on April 30 on a report of multiple vehicles stuck on a horse trail.
Upon arrival, officers noted three vehicles on the trail, two of which appeared to be stuck in the mud.
According to the criminal complaint, Stanek and the other two drivers, Lee Andrew Kalkbrenner, 21, and Trever Mark Anderson, 18, had decided to go four wheeling in the park.
Police said, Stanek told them he had tried to drive his four wheeler up a hill on the trail, but couldn't make it. Then while driving back down, he hit a tree and became stuck in the mud.
According to the criminal complaint, Anderson also got stuck in the mud while driving down the hill.
The third driver, Kalkbrenner, then attempted to get both four wheelers out of the mud by wrapping a tow strap around a tree.
Police said that upon Kalkbrenner's attempt to tow the four wheelers, the tree became uprooted.
Three Rivers Park District officials estimated that damage done to the trail totaled $5,438.
Anderson and Kalkbrenner face similar charges.
Stanek is the son of Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Staneky.
While the incident occurred in Hennepin County, Dakota County is reviewing the case due to conflict of interest.
If found guilty, Stanek could face up to 90 days in jail, $3,000 in fines or both for each charge.
