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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Juvenile charged in Ely stabbing incident

Michael Haapala charged with attempted murder

Keith Vandervort
Posted 10/14/20

ELY – A 13-year-old boy, rescued from near Miners Lake after he was stabbed last week, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, while the 16-year-old suspect has been charged with …

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Juvenile charged in Ely stabbing incident

Michael Haapala charged with attempted murder

Posted

ELY – A 13-year-old boy, rescued from near Miners Lake after he was stabbed last week, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, while the 16-year-old suspect has been charged with attempted murder.
The suspect, identified as Michael William Haapala, remains at Arrowhead Juvenile Center in Duluth and was charged Monday with attempted murder in the second degree, according to the Ely Police Department.
A 911 caller told dispatchers just after 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 that he was hiking and found an individual who appeared to have fallen down a ravine near Miners Lake.
The caller reported the patient had a leg injury, according to the EPD. The patient, a 13-year-old juvenile male, was conscious but confused. Initially, the patient was unable to provide specific details of what happened. Police and Ely first responders arrived on scene and began patient treatment. Medical responders observed additional injuries that were consistent with stab wounds, police said.
The patient told personnel on scene that he was assaulted. Soon after, police located the suspect at his residence and he was taken into custody without resistance.
The victim was taken to the Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital and later transported by air ambulance to Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. According to family members, the 13-year-old was initially in critical condition but expected to make a full recovery.
The Ely Police Department was assisted by the Babbitt Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, MN DNR Enforcement Division, Ely Fire Department/First Responders and the Ely Area Ambulance Service.
The case is still under active investigation, according to EPD Sgt. George Burger.