Posted: 4/12/07
Investigator on leave, charged with harassment
An investigator with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office is on administrative leave following charges of harassment. James Darryl Osowski, 43, of Milaca was served with a summons last week for felony and gross misdemeanor harassment. A summons complaint was filed by Milaca Police Chief Mike Mott on Tuesday, April 4. "We are held to a high standard - and rightfully so," Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent Lindgren said. But what makes this case even more unusual is that the person Osowski has allegedly harassed is a co-worker - Mille Lacs County Attorney Jan Kolb. The summons came seven months after a harassment restraining order was filed by Kolb. The restraining order, filed in October 2006, states Osowski is not to have contact with Kolb or her two children. Because both parties work for the county, telephone calls to her office were allowed under the restraining order, but not to Kolb's direct telephone line. Lindgren said he is not aware of any violation of the harassment restraining order and Kolb confirmed that. A contested hearing was held in December regarding the restraining order, however Osowski did not appear in court and an Otter Tail County judge made findings of harassment. According to the summons complaint, Osowski and Kolb were in an on/off relationship from 2000 to 2004, but Osowski continued to contact Kolb in 2005 and 2006. The complaint states that in the summer of 2006, Osowski's tone changed. Kolb stated she sent an email in January 2006 telling Osowski to "stay away from me and don't call me anymore." Four days later, she contacted the Milaca Police Department because Osowski was outside her home, late at night, pounding on the door and her bedroom window. In September, Osowski went back to Kolb's home in the early morning hours, which caused her to fear for her safety. Her children were home on both occasions. Kolb said the reason it is a felony harassment is because there were two or more instances of harassment within a five year period. Mott said, "There were no harassment violations but the Hennepin County Attorney's office felt it rose to that level. "It depends on what the situation is. Felony harassment is not that uncommon." The Milaca Police Department obtained phone records for the months of June through October of 2006 that showed Osowski contacted Kolb over 1,500 times. When asked if any of the calls were work-related, Kolb replied, "He would use work as an excuse to call me. Some of the calls were work related, but they always ended up with, ‘Where are you and why didn't you answer your phone quicker?'" Mott would not comment on the nature of the calls or if all those calls were answered. Kolb said her department has stayed completely out of the legal process. A Hennepin County prosecutor is handling the case on behalf of the state. "Mott investigating could be a conflict," Paul Rogosheske, Osowski's attorney, said. In particular since the police chief's son works under Osowski at times. "No, I don't think it's a conflict of interest," Mott said. "It's professional and the complaints don't involve my son. And it happened in the city of Milaca." Kolb also feels it's not a conflict of interest as Mike Mott doesn't work with Osowski on a daily basis, because he's with a different law enforcement agency. Also, the prosecutor didn't request a change. Both Mott and Kolb said that Mott's son does not work under Osowski, however the sheriff said, "Investigator, by definition, is a higher rank than a patrol deputy. On major crime scenes, the investigator is in charge of deputies. So he certainly is." Osowski has been with the sheriff's office for 10 years, an investigator since 2003. He served on the Princeton Police Department for seven years prior to that. "Jim is a good officer," Lindgren said. "There are no allegations stemming from this that have been forwarded to me for internal investigation." Osowski faces up to 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine. The sheriff said Osowski is on paid administrative leave. "When there are allegations against a police officer, the public needs to know that we have policies and procedures in place," Lindgren said. "If an officer is alleged to have committed a serious crime, we have the procedures in place so that that person is not investigating serious crimes. "If he's found guilty of the alleged offense, it's potentially career ending." Osowski referred comments to his attorney. "We look forward to litigating the case," Rogosheske said. "We think when all the evidence is in, we'll be exonerated. In a relationship, there's always two sides." Comment from Geo. Jones, 4/12/07 It's good to see that the county attorney is human also. Maybe if the citizens of this county knew about her personal affairs she wouuldn't have gotten voted into office. Strange how all this info. comes out now after election was last Nov. Comment from Milaca Resident, 4/13/07 It certainly is not Ms. Kolb's fault because she has been stalked and harassed by one of the "good ol' boys" in the county and it certainly ranks no merit on the way she does her job & on the previous election. The voters have no right to judge her, no matter what her personal life intails. I am glad it came out to see what kind of men we have working in our county and sad to see that Ms. Kolb was a victim of one. Comment from Natalie, 4/16/07 Are you kidding me Geo Jones? You first tell me what she did wrong in order for you to say that? In what instance is it is okay to show up at someone's home in the middle of the night- especially when she has children, and be a nuisance? It looks to me, that she wanted the relationship to end, and he just couldnt handle it. It's not a fun situation. I have been in a relationship where I have had issues similar to this. The guy seems fine at first, then as you see how overbearing and controlling he is and the relationship ends it, the guy goes totally nuts. Some people just can't take no for an answer. Comment from JoAnn, 4/16/07 I have no dought Ms. Kolb is telling the truth since allegations like these are not usually pursued to further a career. I also think Mr.Osowski in need of some mental health counciling. He also should be asked to move to a different county or department to avoid contact with Mrs. Kolb. Comment from Geo. Jones, 4/17/07 I have no doubt Ms. Kolb is telling the truth or that the matter actually happened. I am not questioning her validity. The question I have is why was this information not brought forward before election last Nov.? I have had similar situations with close friends and there's always more than "meets the eye" and 2 sides to every story. We only read about Ms. Kolbs side. I would like to read Osowski's side. Mille Lacs County Times
Mille Lacs County Times
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