On or about January 25, 2026, at approximately 1:47 A.M., Itasca County Sheriff’s Deputy Ploetz was dispatched to the 60000 block of Village Road in Squaw Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota, for the report of a male being assaulted with a baseball bat with barbed wire on the end. The reporting party indicated that M. A. S., hereinafter Victim, had been hit by GARY THOMAS O’SHEA, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter Defendant, about ten times in the forearm and elbow area. The reporting party stated that defendant left about five minutes prior and the disagreement had been over $50.00. Upon arrival, Victim [NAME REDACTED] in the dining room holding a towel over his forearm, attempting to stop the bleeding.
A long laceration on Victim’s right forearm was observed by the deputies. Deputies observed blood droplets all over the floor in the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Victim indicated that the assault occurred near the back door. Deputy Trombley proceeded to the back of the residence and observed blood on the back deck, on the ground, blood splatter on the deck railing, and nearby propane takes. The blood spatter extended several feet from the beginning of the porch in a westward direction. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had shown up at the residence and Victim [NAME REDACTED] on the back side of the house near the porch.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was being psychotic and was arguing with him over $50 that was borrowed to him. Victim stated that Defendant began to hit him with a brown wooden bat and that Defendant appeared to be aiming for his head. Victim indicated he blocked the bat swings with his forearm, which is where the injury came from. Victim stated he feared for his life. Victim indicated that he knew Defendant as he was his significant other’s niece’s husband. Victim reported that Defendant then left in an unknown direction in the grey sedan.
Beltrami County advised that Defendant had a 2000 Gray Chrysler LHR on his POR registry as a vehicle that he uses. Deer River Ambulance arrived on scene and began providing aid to Victim. While they were examining Victim’s arm, they pointed out a deformity and questioned if Victim’s arm / elbow was possibly broken. Itasca County Sheriff’s Deputies contacted the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office to make them aware of the incident, as Defendant’s residence is listed as [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE, Hines, Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Beltrami County Deputies arrived at Defendant’s residence and observed the gray sedan there. The hood of the vehicle was warm, and the license plate matched the Gray Chrysler listed on Defendant’s POR sheet. Defendant initially refused to leave the residence, despite law enforcement asking him to come out via speaker system. Deputy Ploetz called and spoke with Defendant over the phone, asking him to come out, but Defendant refused. Defendant indicated that he had gone to a friend’s house to play cards with friends and had gotten home around 1:30 A.M. Eventually, Defendant left the residence and was detained.
