SLAYTON -- Charges were filed Monday against a Currie man who allegedly broke a window while demanding entrance to a bar.
Craig Thomas Waddell, 47, of rural Currie, is facing a third-degree damage to property charge, along with one count of disorderly conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities were called early Sunday morning to Roosters Liquor Store in Currie because of a disturbance. Two Murray County Sheriff's deputies were informed a bartender's estranged husband had allegedly broken out a window while trying to get into the locked building after business hours.
Witnesses said Waddell had appeared very intoxicated when he was out in the parking lot. He had allegedly been warned to stay away from the bar and off the property, but when refused entrance, he allegedly began pounding on a glass window next to the door. When the authorities arrived, he had already left the scene.
The deputies located Waddell at his farm site, where he told them he had broken the window when he fell into it, allegedly hurting his wrist and hand.
ADVERTISEMENT
"As we tried to conduct a field interview with Waddell his story kept changing," the report states. "He eventually acted like he did not have anything to do with the damage or the disturbance call."
Waddell's behavior became increasingly uncooperative, the complaint states, so he was taken into custody. While being booked into the Nobles County Jail, several pieces of glass matching that of the glass at Roosters Liquor Store were found inside Waddell's shoes.
During an appearance in Murray County District Court Monday, Waddell was released on his own recognizance with the condition he abstain from using or possession drugs or alcohol.
Previous run-ins with the law include a first-degree controlled substance conviction in Grant County that earned him a 7-year sentence in prison in 2000. He has been charged in Stearns County, Wright County and Hennepin County with crimes that run from hit and run to giving a false name to a peace officer. He was charged and convicted in 1999 in Otter Tail County for first-degree criminal property damage, for which he served 60 days in jail and five years of probation.
His next court appearance is scheduled for next Monday.
