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 agentโs right ring finger.
According to the complaint, the agentโs 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 agentโs 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
14-Year-Old Middleton High School Student Carson Chrapkowski Dies After Bicycle Crash, Driver Alyssa Anderson Arrested
MIDDLETON, Idaho โ A 14-year-old Middleton High School student has died after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle near the high school Friday night, according to the Middleton Police Department.
The teenager was transported by Life Flight to St. Lukeโs Boise following the crash but died from his injuries early Saturday morning.
Middleton police said the crash involved a vehicle and a bicyclist near Middleton High School. The 14-year-old suffered critical injuries and was flown to a Boise hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Police announced Saturday morning that the young bicyclist had succumbed to his injuries.
The teen was identified in the information provided for this report as Carson Chrapkowski, a Middleton High School student. However, the police departmentโs public statement did not release the teenagerโs name.
Police arrested 41-year-old Alyssa Louise Anderson in connection with the crash. Anderson was booked into the Canyon County Jail.
According to police, Anderson is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an injury accident.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the collision or the specific allegations supporting the DUI charge.
The crash remains under investigation by the Middleton Police Department and Idaho State Police. Investigators have not released further information about the sequence of events or whether additional charges could be filed.
Police said they are continuing to work to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The Middleton Police Department expressed condolences to the teenagerโs parents, family, friends, classmates and others affected by his death as the community mourns the loss of a young student.
