CROSBY-Crosby Mayor Jim Hunter was arrested Friday morning.
Hunter, 68, was booked in the Crow Wing County Jail on three felonies-theft by swindle, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and lawful gambling fraud crimes.
Acting with local and state agencies, Crosby police arrested Hunter and Candice Ann McCartan at about 9 a.m., a Crosby police statement said Friday evening. McCartan was booked for felony theft by swindle, and aggravated forgery, it said.
"In addition to the arrests, search warrants were served on Hunter's residence, two businesses owned by Hunter and McCartan, and a storage locker," the police statement said.
The release went on to say the investigation was ongoing and more information would be provided at a later date.
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Hunter is the owner of CI Auto Crosby, JH Trucking and Hunter Nelson rental properties. He is the former owner of Buy Sell Trade.
A Deerwood police officer was guarding CI Auto Friday, and said the business was closed for the day.
The swearing-in of Hunter, who was elected in 2016, was delayed after he and city council member-elect Jim Traylor initially did not submit to a background check, the Crosby-Ironton Courier reported. "After long discussion" at a city council meeting Dec. 27, the swearing-in was postponed until Dec. 29 pending successful completion of a background check by Hunter and Traylor.
In a 2012 interview for the Brainerd Lakes Chamber as he was running for mayor in that year's election, Hunter said he chose to run in order to restore accountability to the city government. Officials needed to realize they were spending the people's money, not their own money, he said.
"We've been a little asleep at the wheel in Crosby," he said.
Hunter said he was a certified law enforcement officer in the state of Colorado, and had been a deputy coroner there.
He also ran for mayor in 2014.
Hunter was charged with disorderly conduct and fifth degree criminal sexual conduct after a May 2011 incident in which he allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments to a waitress at the Crosby Cafe and also allegedly touched the cook's breasts, according to Crow Wing County documents. He was acquitted of the charges the following year, according to the state trial court database.
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Attempts to contact city council members for reaction to Friday's arrest were unsuccessful.
