Man Accused of Threatening to Burn Crookston Home With 9 Kids

A man threatened to burn down a Crookston home with nine children inside and kill everyone in it, according to a criminal complaint filed in Polk County District Court.

David Richard Engelbert faces two counts of threats of violence.

According to the complaint, on October 7, 2026, at about 9:15 p.m., a woman called Polk County Dispatch and reported that Engelbert had threatened to burn her house down with her nine children inside. The woman told officers she was at work when Engelbert called and made the threat, saying he would light the house on fire with everyone in it and kill them all.

READ MORE → Polk County coverage

She said Engelbert was repeatedly calling her, saying mean things, and that she was worried about the children at home, who were being babysat by the oldest child.

The woman told officers she did not know Engelbert’s location and was concerned because there might be gasoline in the garage and Engelbert smokes cigarettes and has lighters. She said Engelbert has made similar threats before and is usually breaking things in front of her to scare her. She described herself as sweating and worried, with nowhere else for the children to go.

An officer also spoke by phone with a man the woman had told about the threats, who said Engelbert was not at the home as far as he knew and that he would call 911 if Engelbert arrived. The complaint states Engelbert had been staying at the Crookston residence with the woman and the children.

The complaint also details a previous incident on August 17, 2026, when another woman reported that Engelbert was threatening to kick down her door in Crookston. Officers responded and arrested Engelbert for disorderly conduct. Engelbert was later released on conditions that included no contact with the people involved and not entering their residence, though those restrictions were later lifted by the court.

According to the complaint, Engelbert has prior convictions for disorderly conduct on February 13, 2024, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property in November 2022, controlled substance crime and theft in February 2017, fleeing a peace officer in September 2016, criminal damage to property in June 2015, theft in April 2012, two counts of felony violation of a domestic abuse no contact order, controlled substance crime, escape from custody and felony pattern of harassing conduct in April 2009, and two counts of felony assault in June 2008, as well as numerous traffic offenses.

The charges were filed October 9 in Polk County District Court.