UW-River Falls Student Voice November 7 2002

Mayor faces battery count in alley fight

Misdemeanor charge linked to bat attack on UW-RF student


Scott Wente
Editor-in-Chief

    River Falls Mayor Eric Amundsen was charged Monday with misdemeanor battery in connection with an Oct. 25 fight that involved two UW-River Falls students in a downtown alley.
    Amundsen, 32, who issued a statement last week admitting involvement in the fight, told police he hit UW-RF student Robert E. Klingforth, 22, in the back and elbow with a baseball bat during the early morning scuffle, according to the criminal complaint.
    Amundsen told police he used the bat as a defense in a "threatening situation."
    The fight also involved UW-RF student Matthew J. Herman and Amundsen's friend, Terry Klasen, of Bagley, Minn. Pierce County District Attorney John O'Boyle charged only Amundsen.
    "We didn't feel that what anyone else did rose to a criminal charge," O'Boyle said.
    The complaint says the two UW-RF students had been drinking at Club Kaos, 106 N. Main St., and Boomer's bar, 107 E. Elm St.
    Amundsen, who tends bar part-time at Bo's 'n Mine, 110 S. Main St., told police he finished work at midnight. He drank alcohol with Klasen and two female friends first at Bo's and then at Boomer's, according to the complaint.
    The four then walked to a vehicle parked behind Bo's. Amundsen told police Klingforth and Herman approached the women and asked if they could take them home. The women told the students to "go away," Amundsen said.
    According to the complaint, Amunsdsen told police he and Klasen intervened when the women and the students were arguing, and a shoving match took place between the four men. During this time he said he called 9-1-1 on his cell phone but the reception was bad. Amundsen said that during the fight "from somewhere a baseball bat appeared."
    Amundsen told police he picked the bat up off the ground and used it to hit Klingforth because he felt threatened.
    A police report says, "Amundsen was advised that I had some doubt as to the sudden appearance of the baseball bat and he became very defensive and he stated he did not have any idea as to where the bat had came from."
    The complaint says Klingforth told police that Herman made a suggestive remark to the women and in response Klasen made a sarcastic comment about the UW-RF Rugby team. Both Klingforth and Herman were wearing black rugby jackets.
    Klingforth said he and Herman approached Klasen and the women when words were exchanged between the two groups. Klingforth said he was trying to get Herman to leave when he was hit twice with a bat. He said Amundsen was holding the bat. Klingforth said he grabbed the bat and threw it aside and then tried to punch Amundsen at least four times, according to the complaint.
    Klingforth said during the fight Amundsen mentioned something about the mayor and that police were en route, the complaint says.
    River Falls police officers arrived in the alley shortly after 2 p.m. and the men were standing in a group pointing at each other.
    Klingforth received three stitches on his elbow as a result of the blow, which police say drew a "significant" amount of blood.
    O'Boyle said Amundsen's position as a first-term mayor - he won an April election - did not influence his interpretation of the investigation.
    "The assessment is the same when it's the mayor or somebody else," O'Boyle said. "My analysis isn't any different."
    Early last week Amundsen released a statement in which he said he was cooperating fully with the police department's investigation.
    "I trust that upon the conclusion of the investigation I will be in a position to explain what did, indeed, occur, as well as the nature of my involvement in it," Amundsen wrote.
    River Falls Police Chief Roger Leque said the type of bat used is unknown.
    "We have not recovered the bat," Leque said Wednesday.
    O'Boyle said he recommended to the police department that municipal disorderly conduct citations be considered against the other men.
    "We are considering that but that has not happened as of yet," Leque said. "Our plans are to follow up on his request."
    Amundsen is scheduled to appear in Pierce County circuit court Dec. 2. If found guilty of the Class A misdemeanor, he could face a fine of up to $10,000 and/or nine months in prison.