On January 26, 2026, at about 11:53 P.M., Officer Thompson was dispatched to a residential area in the city of Nisswa, County of Crow Wing, State of Minnesota for reports of a male knocking on the front door of the residence claiming to have run out of gas on his snowmobile. The reporting party, an off-duty law enforcement officer, hereinafter referred to as MWJ, did not open the door for the male but spoke through the door to the male. The male was not allowed to be there, and MWJ repeatedly asked the male to leave.
MWJ told the male that law enforcement would be called if he didn't leave. The male was reportedly wearing a flannel shirt, a medical-style face mask, and a dark hat, and was about 30 to 40 years old. The male began to walk away from the residence and walked around the yard. The male eventually left the area on foot. Officer Thompson responded to the area and located a Jeep Grand Cherokee leaving the area, and the driver matched the male's description. Officer Thompson conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle bearing MnLic#194AJ0 and advised the driver, identified as Jerry Allen Stangel [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, of the reason for the stop.
Defendant stated he was coming from Elk River and was driving to Walker. While driving, Defendant realized he was low on gas and stopped at the listed address. Defendant also stated he was lost, had never driven from Elk River to Walker before, and did not notice passing the Holiday Gas Station while driving north on St Hwy 371. Defendant also said he did not have any credit cards and had only about $5 with him for gas. Defendant was no longer wearing a face mask and denied being at MWJ's residence.
Defendant was released and advised to go to the Holiday Gas Station in Nisswa. Officer Thompson called MWJ to update him and identified the male as Defendant to MWJ. After speaking with MWJ, Officer Thompson believed that Defendant was at MWJ's residence to threaten or tamper with MWJ as a witness to Defendant's wife's (LJS) upcoming court case. Defendant's wife, LJS, had a court hearing earlier in the afternoon on January 26, 2026 for felony drug charges. MWJ reported that LJS was acting strange during her court hearing earlier that afternoon.
MWJ indicated that he was scheduled to testify as a witness in the State's case for LJS's trial which was to commence the next day, on January 27, 2026. Officer Thompson then drove back to the Holiday Gas Station and located Defendant, who was again no longer wearing a face mask. He advised Defendant that he was aware of the scheduled court hearings for his wife's case. Defendant responded with something to the effect of, "I don't know what you are talking about." Defendant was placed under arrest for the listed charges and transported to the jail.
At the jail, Defendant was read the Miranda Warning and agreed to speak with Officer Thompson. Defendant admitted to being at MWJ's house because he needed gas. Defendant said that he did not write a note with MWJ's address on it and that he left when he was asked to leave. Defendant said that if he were at the residence for something else he would have done something. Defendant then expressed frustration and told Officer Thompson that the evidence in this case against him will disappear just like in his wife's (LJS) case.
