East Grand Forks, Polk County (trfnews.i234.me) Christopher Lee Wick has been charged in Polk County District Court after prosecutors said he caused major damage at The Spud Jr. in East Grand Forks.
According to a criminal complaint, Wick faces one felony count of first-degree criminal damage to property. Prosecutors say the damage was more than $1,000. A repair estimate listed in the case puts the loss at $2,234.
What Prosecutors Allege
The complaint says the case began on January 7, 2025. Police were called to The Spud Jr. after a report of vandalism. At the scene, officers found a shattered lower glass panel on a garage-style door.
Investigators said a planter had been thrown through the glass. The business owner told police he believed Wick was responsible. The complaint says Wick had recently been fired after a workplace dispute.
Prosecutors say the owner believed Wick was angry over losing his job and turning in a work cell phone. The complaint states that surveillance footage showed Wick near the damaged door just before the glass was broken.
Video Evidence and Admission
Authorities also reviewed video from a nearby business. According to the complaint, that footage showed a man in a black jacket picking up a decorative planter and throwing it at the restaurant door.
The complaint says still images from restaurant footage placed Wick at the scene at the same time. Investigators later secured the nearby video through a search warrant. The footage was then entered into evidence.
The complaint also says Wick later spoke with police during a patrol contact on January 18, 2025. During that conversation, prosecutors say Wick admitted he threw the planter and damaged the glass.
Repair Cost and Court Filing
A repair estimate from PS Garage Doors put the cost at $2,234, according to court records. That amount pushed the case into felony territory under Minnesota law.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. More details about the charge can be found in Minnesota Statute 609.595.
Readers can also follow court procedures and case information through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
What Comes Next
The case was filed in Polk County District Court. The complaint lays out the state’s allegations, but it is not a conviction. Wick is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.