Pembina County (trfnews.i234.me) – A 46-year-old Pembina County man, Charles Dalzell, appeared emotional as he pleaded not guilty on Friday, July 11, to federal charges alleging he threatened to harm several top officials, including Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl, Governor Kelly Armstrong, Attorney General Drew Wrigley, and a state judge.
Dalzell, accompanied by attorney Rhiannon Gorham, was arraigned in Fargo before Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal on an indictment issued June 26. The case centers on a June 15 email Dalzell sent to Puhl, in which he referenced the fatal shooting of two legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, warning, “do you hope that I flip out and end up dead by a police officer?”
Prosecutors also noted Dalzell had attempted to retrieve a previously confiscated firearm shortly before sending the threatening email. He was ordered detained until trial, which is tentatively set for Sept. 9. The South Dakota U.S. Attorney’s Office will handle the prosecution, though the case remains in North Dakota federal court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.