Incident Summary:
On August 2, 2017 at approximately 0739 hours, the Breitung Police Department with the assistance of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and Tower Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 813 3rd Street N., Tower, MN. When law enforcement arrived there was smoke billowing out of the second story window along with flames coming out of the bottom floor window. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters located an 11 month old infant deceased inside the residence. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The names of the deceased and parties involved are being withheld pending notification of family members.
Assisting Agencies
Breitung Fire Department, Tower Ambulance, Greenwood Fire Department, Minnesota State Fire Marshall's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Virginia Police Department, Minnesota DNR, U.S. Border Patrol, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Virginia Ambulance, Life Link Air Ambulance, St. Louis County Rescue Squad.
Authority: Sgt. Steve Borchers
Date: August 2, 2017 Time: 5:00 PM
Additional Information or Update:
On August 3, 2017, the Breitung Police Department has identified the victim of the structure fire as Bentley Joe Lewis Koski, 11 months, of Tower, MN. As a result of this ongoing investigation, Jesse Lee Bonacci-Koski has been arrested for Second Degree Manslaughter, Child Neglect, Auto Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia. Bonacci-Koski is currently in custody at the St. Louis County Jail in Virginia, MN, pending formal charges. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation although it is not believed to have been caused by Arson.
This investigation is being conducted by the Breitung Police Department with the assistance of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshall's Office. For additional information related to this investigation, please contact Chief Jesse Anderson of the Breitung Police Department at 218-753-6660.
|
