Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about 8:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, of an assault involving a possible handgun at 22665 County State Aid Hwy. 14, rural Darwin. When deputies arrived, they found that Eric Patrick Michaels, 28 of Zimmerman, had been assaulted by two male suspects identified as Richard Paul Smith, 18 of Darwin, and Jeremy Jay Gonzales, 25 of Kimball. Smith and Gonzales fled the scene in a 1991 black Firebird. The two suspects then went to Riebe Trucking, where they then threatened Charlan Dean Kalm, 36, who rents the property where the assault occurred. The two male suspects reportedly drove through a backyard at the address of 301 East Pacific St. in the city of Darwin; Meeker County deputies located the suspects at 614 No. 1st St., Darwin. Smith was arrested for terroristic threats, minor consumption and assault charges; Gonzales was arrested for assault and terroristic threats. Dassel Rescue, Gold Cross Ambulance, Litchfield Police and the Minnesota State Patrol also assisted at the scene. The incident is still under investigation by Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
