Hunting On Your Own Land, Gets Owner Arrested For Trespassing!

[twyacht]

What's up with this???

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/153801

Superior man arrested for trespassing on his own land

Jeremy Engelking will appear in Douglas County court this afternoon to face a trespassing charge. But here’s the kicker: The Superior man allegedly trespassed on his own property.

Engelking, 27, aimed to hunt deer Wednesday morning when he noticed a pipeline crew on his land. He hopped on his ATV and told workers they had no right to be on his property because he had received no compensation from Enbridge Energy Partners L.P. for an easement.

Engelking said workers told him he was in an unsafe place and asked him to come to an equipment staging area, where he continued to argue his case.

But just as he was turning to leave, Engelking said an officer from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene and approached with a Taser drawn.

“He ordered me to 'get down on the ground now!' And he said that I was being arrested for trespassing,” Engelking said.

When Engelking protested, pointing out that he was on his own property, he said Sgt. Robert Smith told him: “It doesn’t matter. You’re going to jail. You can tell it to a judge tomorrow.”

Engelking offered no resistance, but Smith placed him in handcuffs then transported him to the Douglas County Jail. After posting a $200 bail bond, Engelking was released that afternoon. He also had to pay about another $100 to recover his impounded ATV.

Are you kidding me??

[Big Frank]

WTF? 

[texcaliber]

First thing that man should of done was contact a lawyer. This is a mega lawsuit in the making.

[TAB]

well the good news is he will be able to hunt every day of every season next year... he will be able to take off work   

[tombogan03884]

This is going to depend on how state laws are written, but the first step should be to have his lawyer file an injunction to get the work stopped, and a restraining order against company employees. Then follow that with a Criminal charge of "theft by unauthorized taking"  That portion of his land. Also grounds for action against the Officer personaly and the Dept in general.

[Sponsor]

[1911 Junkie]

If the pipeline crew had no right to be there and the cop arrested the man on his own property, that is one cop that needs thinned from the herd.

You can bet this a$$hole will be first in line when volunteers for confiscations are called for. I guess there are no property rights.

 

[TAB]

Tom the only way I see him losing this one in court is if he was in the wrong about them being on his land.  Even if there was a easment that let them be there, they still have to notify( or make an attempt too) the property owner they are going to come on to his property to do work. 

The Police officer saying he didn't care your still going to jail is what will get him the big bucks.   

[tombogan03884]

That's the way it would be here as well. BUT...................

[MikeBjerum]

I'm going to give LE the benefit for the time being.  There is a lot not said in the article, and it is possible that Engelking may not have been "very polite" and the deputy was taking the safe side for all involved.

Next reports should clear it up, and then I may rant.  This coming from someone that has used farm equipment to block workers with an easement until he could get some answers.

[WIshooter]

I live about 50 miles from Superior WI, It is the closest big town to me.  I also have a friend who works for a sub contractor for the pipeline.  The pipeline has been a very controversial issue for some years now, a massive project.  I know the guys who work for northern clearing have to go to daily meetings where they talk about safety and where they can/cannot walk as trespassing is a big liability concern.  Alot of landowners get mad about work thats done, and how it effects their land even though it has already been hashed out legally.