The Cass County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the person or persons who drove 6-inch pole barn nails through more than 500 red pine trees sold at a public timber auction north of Backus.
The Cass County Land Department, along with sheriff's investigators, are investigating the criminal damage to property.
Cass County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in finding the person or persons who drove 6-inch pole barn nails through more than 500 red pine trees sold at a public timber auction north of Backus.
Authorities believe several suspects drove 6-inch pole barn nails into red pine trees on a plantation north of Backus. More than 500 trees were damaged. This act is being taken very seriously, according to authorities. If the nails had not been discovered, they could have caused great bodily harm or death to the operator conducting the harvest.
The nails were discovered by the forest resource manager prior to the operator moving on site. This damage is being handled as a felony crime. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
"It is fortunate that this was uncovered before anyone was seriously injured," Joshua Stevenson, Cass County land commissioner said in a statement Friday. "This crime is not only against the resources but also the township, school district and other entities that rely on revenue generated from the resource."
Stevenson said the damage to the stand must be removed, resulting in the complete harvest of the plantation. The plantation would have been managed for another 70-80 years through a series of thinning, resulting in older, larger, high quality red pine. With the damage it has sustained and the potential danger to future operators, the land will now be clear cut and replanted.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office has collected evidence and is actively investigating the crime.
Confidential information may be directed to the Cass County Sheriff's Department at (800) 450-2677. Ask for investigator Mike Diekman.
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