Crime
Claire Louise Feng and Emily Duchateau Baierl arrested after biting agents fingers moments after Alex Pretti was killed
Two women are facing federal charges after allegedly assaulting U.S. Border Patrol agents during a confrontation that followed the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis over the weekend, authorities said.
According to federal court records, Claire Louise Feng, 27, of St. Paul, and Emily Duchateau Baierl, 37, of Minneapolis, were arrested on January 24 and charged in U.S. District Court with assaulting federal law enforcement officers.
Feng was formally charged the following day. Baierl faces the same charge. Both women were scheduled to make their initial court appearances on January 26.
Court documents indicate that neither defendant has an attorney listed at this time.
Both remain in custody at the Sherburne County Jail pending a determination of bail.
The charges stem from events that unfolded shortly after Pretti, 37, was fatally shot by federal agents at approximately 9 a.m. during an immigration enforcement operation.
Following the shooting, federal officers established a security perimeter as a crowd began to gather near the scene.
According to criminal complaints filed against Feng and Baierl, tensions escalated around 9:25 a.m. after federal agents deployed chemical agents in an effort to prevent individuals from approaching the area.
Investigators allege that a woman kicked a chemical canister back toward officers.
As an agent attempted to arrest the individual, he fell to the ground.
The complaint states that Feng then tackled the agent, prompting a second officer to intervene and pull her away.
As Feng was taken to the ground and restrained face down, the second agent reached beneath her to secure her arm. At that point, authorities allege that Feng bit the agent’s right ring finger.
According to the complaint, the agent’s vision was impaired by his gas mask, and he was initially unaware of the severity of the injury, though he knew he had been hurt.
After removing his glove, the agent discovered that the tip of his finger had been bitten off.
The severed fingertip was later found inside the glove, and the agent received medical treatment approximately 45 minutes after the incident.
In a separate encounter around the same time, a Border Patrol agent attempted to arrest Baierl after observing her allegedly throwing objects toward officers.
Investigators say the agent was pushed away by another individual, after which a second agent attempted to detain Baierl.
While the officer attempted to remove her face covering, Baierl allegedly bit the agent’s middle finger, which was covered by a glove.
The death of Pretti marks the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota this month, amid a large-scale immigration enforcement effort known as Operation Metro Surge.
Federal authorities have not released additional details regarding the ongoing investigation into the shooting itself.
The cases against Feng and Baierl remain pending in federal court.
Crime
Wilhelmina Leigh Carlton charged with the murder in stabbing of her boyfriend Darius Montreal Boglin
A 43-year-old woman from Bessemer has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend earlier this month, according to authorities.
Court records show Wilhelmina Leigh Carlton, 43, is charged with the murder of Darius Montreal Boglin, 45.
Carlton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on March 5 and is currently being held without bond.
Officers with the Bessemer Police Department were dispatched at approximately 7:49 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, to the 3100 block of Avenue B following reports of a stabbing.
According to Detective Justin Burmeister, responding officers arrived at the scene and discovered Boglin suffering from a stab wound in a driveway.
Emergency responders attempted to assess his condition, but he was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 8:10 p.m.
Authorities said Carlton was still present at the location when officers arrived and was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators confirmed that Carlton and Boglin were involved in a dating relationship.
Charging documents allege that the fatal incident occurred during an altercation when Boglin allegedly grabbed Carlton from behind, at which point she stabbed him, resulting in his death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411 or 205-481-4366. Tips can also be submitted through the department’s tip line at 205-428-3541, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.