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A former FBI agent who supervised the Jacob Wetterling investigation says the agency botched how it first handled the man now considered a person of interest in the case. Al Garber wrote in his out-of-print 2009 memoir that the FBI's encounter with Danny Heinrich in 1990 was a "comedy of errors" and "a big mistake."
The person of interest in Jacob Wetterling's kidnapping spoke to WCCO-TV in 1996. A review of our archives has turned up a 1996 undercover interview that WCCO-TV did with Danny Heinrich. At one point, Heinrich describes how authorities at one point actually arrested him and accused him of abducting Jacob.
Authorities continue to ask for more information about Danny Heinrich, the man identified as a person of interest by law enforcement in the Jacob Wetterling case a week ago Thursday. But there is another person of interest named publicly in 2010. Dan Rassier is a school band teacher, and Wetterling was abducted at the end of his quarter-mile-long driveway.
For the first time since Danny Heinrich was called a "person of interest" in the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, the friend who was with Wetterling the night he was kidnapped is speaking out.
The person of interest in the Jacob Wetterling case was back in court Wednesday on child pornography charges. An FBI agent also testified in court about evidence linking 52-year-old Danny Heinrich to Wetterling's abduction and other sexual assaults of young boys.
More drama is unfolding in the ongoing purge of top executives at Starkey Labs. Federal agents executed a search warrant at the Plymouth home of former Starkey president Jerry Ruzicka Wednesday afternoon.
Danny Heinrich, the person of interest in the Jacob Wetterling disappearance, moved to Annandale eight years ago. That is where he was arrested at his home last week. The community questions how he went under the radar for so long. Authorities told WCCO they knew Heinrich, but not for the reason you would think.
The FBI is offering a reward to anyone who can help them nab a bank robber. St. Paul Police say the TCF Bank on the 400 block of Lexington Parkway was robbed on the morning of Aug. 29.
Ten people were killed and seven others hurt after a shooting at an Oregon Community College. Just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police responded to calls that said there was an active shooter at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, about 175 miles south of Portland.
New evidence has surfaced in the search for a missing Mounds View man. Henry McCabe, 32, has been missing since Labor Day.
A 66-year-old northern Minnesota man was convicted Friday of sexually abusing two women on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The U.S. Attorney's Office says William Andrew Clark, of Blackduck, was found guilty of one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse in connection to two rapes on the reservation.
The family of a murdered Minnesota college student is working with the FBI to find the person responsible. It will be one year ago this weekend that 18-year-old Tom Bearson was killed in Moorhead. He had just started college at North Dakota State University.
The FBI is searching for the man who robbed a bank in Minneapolis Friday afternoon.
The head of the FBI in Minneapolis says the high-profile arrests of six young area men charged with plotting to join the Islamic State group haven't stopped others from aspiring to do so. In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Thornton said "there are people in this community that are at various stages along the path to traveling as we speak." He didn't elaborate on numbers.
Officials in the south metro say a career criminal has been arrested after escaping a South Dakota prison and robbing three banks in the Twin Cities metro area.
Police are looking for a bank robber who hit two Richfield banks within an hour Tuesday afternoon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public's help to locate additional victims of a convicted online child predator who may have Lucas Chansler, 31, formerly of St. Johns, Florida, was sentenced to 105 years in prison after pleading guilty last August to nine counts of producing child pornography.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are asking Americans to remain vigilant to the threat of a terror attack over the Fourth of July weekend.
Sen. Al Franken has ten big questions for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice in light of the recent surveillance flights that occurred over a number of U.S. metro areas, including the Twin Cities.
The FBI has admitted to flying secret surveillance flights over American cities in recent weeks. The story was first reported by Sam Richards who put out information under the twitter handle @MinneapolisAM. The 23-year-old independent journalist first published the story of the FBI surveillance program on the website Medium on May 26.
Scores of low-flying planes circling American cities are part of a civilian air force operated by the FBI and obscured behind fictitious companies, The Associated Press has learned.
Prosecutors say a Minnesota man accused of trying to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group told an informant he'd kill FBI agents if they tried to stop him, while another told friends he'd "spit on America" at the U.S.-Mexico border.
On Monday, prosecutors in Texas charged 170 members of rival motorcycle gangs with engaging in organized crime. So, how much of a threat are these biker gangs? Good Question.
A handful of brides in the Twin Cities are scrambling to find a new reception hall after the Fort Snelling Officer's Club shut down due to heightened security. "Due to increased force protections, the Officer's Club will remain closed until further notice," the club's voice message said.
Defenders of some Minnesota men accused of trying to join ISIS say the FBI entrapped them. The government charged four men and two of their friends with trying to go overseas: Mohamed Abdihamid Farah, 21; Adnan Abdihamid Farah, 19; Abdurahman Yasin Daud, 21; Zacharia Yusuf Abdurahman, 19; Hanad Mustafe Musse, 19; and Guled Ali Omar, 20.
A Minnesota federal judge ordered a government attorney to be held in civil contempt of court, further escalating tension between the judiciary and Trump administration over immigration cases.
The Minnesota Legislature quickly began discussing proposals in response to the federal immigration crackdown in the state on Wednesday when lawmakers began their work in earnest after pausing to honor the late Rep. Melissa Hortman on day one.
Hundreds of protesters packed into the Minnesota Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, the second day of the legislative session, to demand accountability and action, saying state leaders did not do enough during Operation Metro Surge.
It's been almost a week since White House border czar Tom Homan said he was ending the ICE surge in Minnesota, but not everyone is seeing a drawdown just yet.
Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen's husband, Josh, died unexpectedly in December 2020. The day after his funeral, she learned she was pregnant.
The Minnesota Legislature quickly began discussing proposals in response to the federal immigration crackdown in the state on Wednesday when lawmakers began their work in earnest after pausing to honor the late Rep. Melissa Hortman on day one.
Hundreds of protesters packed into the Minnesota Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, the second day of the legislative session, to demand accountability and action, saying state leaders did not do enough during Operation Metro Surge.
It's been almost a week since White House border czar Tom Homan said he was ending the ICE surge in Minnesota, but not everyone is seeing a drawdown just yet.
Minneapolis police say a 51-year-old woman is in custody for stabbing a man overnight Wednesday near downtown.
The EP, released on Ash Wednesday and called "Days of Ash" is "of the moment we wish we weren't in . . . but are," Bono said.
The Minnesota Legislature quickly began discussing proposals in response to the federal immigration crackdown in the state on Wednesday when lawmakers began their work in earnest after pausing to honor the late Rep. Melissa Hortman on day one.
Hundreds of protesters packed into the Minnesota Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, the second day of the legislative session, to demand accountability and action, saying state leaders did not do enough during Operation Metro Surge.
Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm as a proposal to overturn a mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota steps closer to reality.
Footage is now public of the deadly Feb. 10 encounter in Duluth, Minnesota, between deputies and a homicide suspect.
Multiple Minnesota schools have announced closures and delays on Thursday due to the effects of a winter storm.
Three people are dead after a house fire in a small western Wisconsin town early Saturday.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A jury has found a Wisconsin man guilty of forging threats against President Donald Trump in an attempt to get a witness against him deported.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the 11 states reporting their first measles cases of 2026.
Hundreds of schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin have closed or shifted to virtual learning on Friday amid dangerous cold.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered on the Highway 62 bridge between Minneapolis and Richfield after a small protest sparked a confrontation there last week.
Karmel Mall has been mostly silent, with shops closed at the building on East Lake Street. Operation Metro Surge has caused many Somalis to stay home.
The ongoing presence of ICE and federal law enforcement in the Minneapolis area has kept many immigrants at home for fear of being arrested. Now, their neighbors are crowdsourcing to cover their rent.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations aren't only happening in the Twin Cities. Federal agents are also working in smaller towns, and in some, seeing similar resistance from the community.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
A Minnesota federal judge ordered a government attorney to be held in civil contempt of court, further escalating tension between the judiciary and Trump administration over immigration cases.
Hundreds of protesters packed into the Minnesota Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, the second day of the legislative session, to demand accountability and action, saying state leaders did not do enough during Operation Metro Surge.
Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm as a proposal to overturn a mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota steps closer to reality.
It's been almost a week since White House border czar Tom Homan said he was ending the ICE surge in Minnesota, but not everyone is seeing a drawdown just yet. In fact, many cities outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul say they're seeing more action.
Minnesota and federal authorities are investigating the alleged beating of a Mexican citizen by immigration officers last month, seeking to identify what caused the eight skull fractures that landed the man in the intensive care unit of a Minneapolis hospital.
On Friday morning, workers held a press conference to reflect on how the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge has impacted the food industry.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Amid ongoing immigration operations in Minnesota, a local company is filling a desperate need for on-demand legal help.
Outside the governor's mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday, demonstrators, including many students and teachers, pleaded for Gov. Tim Walz to enact an immediate eviction moratorium to help families impacted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge.
It's part of broader protests calling on the Minneapolis-based retailer to respond more directly to immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis police say a 51-year-old woman is in custody for stabbing a man overnight Wednesday near downtown.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has issued formal demands to federal authorities this week for evidence in the shootings of Alex Pretti and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
Footage is now public of the deadly Feb. 10 encounter in Duluth, Minnesota, between deputies and a homicide suspect.
Police searched for the suspect, but did not find one, and said the motive for the shooting is unclear.
Last fall, Hannah LoPresto came forward to say she was groomed and sexually assaulted by her band director. She told WCCO she wants her experience to change laws to better protect kids. Now, lawmakers are set to introduce legislation this session.
It's a place that sees patients in the worst of times. And now, Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis is in the worst of ways.
From the flu to the common cold, viruses keep knocking out Minnesotans this winter. A physician with Hennepin Healthcare breaks down how long an individual may be contagious after they start to feel better.
North Minneapolis resident Kate Varns is a bonafide Ironman, meaning she's finished the toughest of toughest triathlons. But after surviving a stroke several years ago, that accomplishment paled in comparison to what laid ahead.
Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou, faculty members with the University of Minnesota, have been recognized by TIME as two of the 100 most influential people in health in 2026.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
The EP, released on Ash Wednesday and called "Days of Ash" is "of the moment we wish we weren't in . . . but are," Bono said.
"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert criticized CBS on Monday night, saying the network blocked his interview with U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico from airing.
Anderson Cooper will report multiple stories for "60 Minutes" before the end of the television season in May.
Springsteen's Land Of Hope And Dreams tour will start March 31 at Target Center. Tickets will go on sale Friday at noon.
Warner Bros. Discovery said that Paramount Skydance is considering enhancing its buyout offer for the entertainment company.
Northern Iowa football player Parker Sutherland has died two days after collapsing during an offseason workout.
Isaac Asuma scored 15 points and Grayson Grove scored 13 points and Minnesota ended its five-game Big Ten Conference road losing streak by beating Oregon 61-44.
The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their cost-cutting move with Mike Conley by signing the veteran guard two weeks after trading him away.
A nearly perfect regular season record for the Breck Mustangs this girls hockey season (25-1-1) earned them the No. 2 seed in Class A of the girls state hockey tournament starting on Wednesday.
Blake sophomore Ella Anderson delivered the game-winning goal during overtime in the section final against the Academy of Holy Angels. The squad is now taking aim at an eighth state title.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will send a letter this week, demanding DHS and DOJ turn over evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretti.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says she will be sending a letter this week to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to demand they turn over evidence in the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti by immigration officers in south Minneapolis.
Last month, activist Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested following a protest at a Minnesota church. In Talking Points, she shares why she felt it was important to protest, her arrest and White House's digitally altered photo of her arrest.
Last month, activist Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested following a protest at a Minnesota church. In Talking Points, she shares why she felt it was important to protest, her arrest and White House's digitally altered photo of her arrest.
Last month, activist and former Twin Cities NAACP president Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested following a protest at a Minnesota church where the leader of a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office serves as a pastor. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy sits down with Armstrong to discuss the protest, her arrest, and her reaction to what she calls a “diabolical” attempt to degrade her image.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
Northland Arboretum was built half a century ago on top of what was once a city dump. But over time, nature carved its own path with a little help from a Zamboni.
St. James is a smaller town with a main street and a railroad running though. But inside a local building, the main street and the railroad are even smaller.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
On the first day of the Minnesota Legislature, artificial intelligence is giving visitors and lawmakers at the State Capitol a new sense of security.
From the flu to the common cold, viruses keep knocking out Minnesotans this winter. A physician with Hennepin Healthcare breaks down how long an individual may be contagious after they start to feel better.
White House border czar Tom Homan, without offering further explanation, claimed the federal immigration operation in Minnesota uncovered thousands of missing children in the state, but it's likely related to a much larger number the administration has been touting for a few years.
As our weather warms, love is also in the air. Valentine's Day is this Saturday, and while we know many of the traditions, Jeff Wagner wanted to get to the heart of the holiday.
The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
A NEXT Weather Alert is in effect until 9 p.m., as the metro could see 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
A blizzard is pummeling northern Minnesota, as the storm closed Highway 61 Wednesday morning.
A NEXT Weather Alert is in effect as a snowstorm rolls across Minnesota Wednesday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
We are currently in a Next Weather Alert until 9 p.m. Expect light snow and wind, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
A NEXT Weather Alert is in effect until 9 p.m., as the metro could see 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation.
A blizzard is pummeling northern Minnesota, as the storm closed Highway 61 Wednesday morning.
On the second day of the Minnesota legislative session, lawmakers worked to address Operation Metro Surge.
The protesters say that state leaders did not do enough during Operation Metro Surge.
Witnesses say they found gas canisters on the ground after they put out the fire.