Monday, October 04, 1999

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Man reports assault after leaving ‘nightclub’

By LEE BONORDEN

Austin Daily Herald

Donald Earl Swank reported he was assaulted and robbed after leaving an unlicensed "night club" early Saturday.

Swank was later arrested on a warrant from Steele County.

According to the Austin Police Department, Swank reported being assaulted by two white males after leaving Valentino Laponte’s nightclub at 215 3rd Ave. NE.

He described the assailants as two white male subjects, including one with a shaved head.

Swank claimed he lost over $1,000 in cash when his wallet was taken.

When two police officers went to the address where Swank said Laponte was operating a nightclub, they discovered a locked door to an apartment in the building, but observed subjects inside through a window.

The officers were summoned to the apartment, because of complaints of loud noise.

When the officers were admitted to the apartment, they observed between 20-25 "highly intoxicated" individuals.

A table, where alcoholic beverages were displayed, was called the "bar" and in another room there were three people, who described themselves as "djs" plus a large amount of sophisticated stereo equipment.

Laponte told the officers he locked the door to what he described as a "nightclub" to "keep undesirables out."

No arrests were made and the subjects identified by Swank as his assailants were not seen at the residence.

Also, no money was observed changing hands in Laponte’s apartment, while the officers conducted their investigation.

Swank’s injuries from the assault were photographed, but he did not require hospitalization.

Swank, who gave his address as "the Ramada Inn at Owatonna," was later taken into custody in the downtown area on the Steele County warrant. He posted bail and was released.

Boat rolls onto median

Richard Nienczyk was involved in a mishap along Interstate 90 Sunday afternoon.

According to a Mower County Sheriff’s Department report, the mishap occurred east of Austin while Nienczyk was traveling eastbound pulling a trailer loaded with a boat.

The trailer’s tongue apparently broke and the trailer with the boat came free from the Nienczyk vehicle and swerved into the freeway median.

Nienczyk stopped and retrieved the trailer which came to a halt in the traffic lanes, while the boat broke loose and rolled over onto its windshield in the traffic median.

No injuries were reported.

Nienczyk told Mower County Sheriff’s Department and Minnesota State Patrol investigators, he was moving from Wyoming to Wisconsin at the time he was passing through Mower County on the freeway.

Dogs attack goat

The death of a rare fainting pygmy goat has prompted authorities to ask the public for information.

Shelly Bellrichard told a Mower County Sheriff’s Department investigator her pet goat was apparently attacked and killed by two dogs seen running loose in Racine Sunday.

The goat is described as a pygmy fainting goat, according to authorities, who said anyone with information about seeking the dogs running loose is asked to call (507) 437-9400.