On Monday, November 9, 2020, at about 2:45 PM the Crookston Police Department received a report that a firearm was possibly discharged at 210 West Loring and that a tire on a construction trailer was damaged as a result.
During the investigation, Officers learned a work crew was re-siding the duplex rental property at 210 West Loring, that around 1:55 PM several of the workers heard what sounded like a gunshot followed immediately by the sound of air exiting a tire on the construction trailer which was visibly going flat. The trailer was taken to a local tire repair shop where a 9mm round was located inside the damaged tire.
Officers arrived at the scene, spoke with the workers and observed what appeared to be a hole in the side of the building similar in size to a 9mm round, which appeared to have exited the home and would have aligned with the location of the construction trailer. It was reported to Officers a single male, later identified as Casey Benjamin Staff, 21 years old, left that residence very shortly after the gunshot. Contact was made with Staff who stated it was an accidental discharge and that he would return to the residence. Staff, who resides in that apartment, consented to a search of the residence by Officers and he advised Officers where the gun could be found. Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were also located in the home.
Staff was transported to the Northwest Regional Correction Center in Crookston. He is waiting to appear on potential charges of Dangerous Weapons – Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, 5th Degree Drug Possession; not marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number.
The case is active; no other information is available at this time. The CPD was assisted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force.
