1st responder accused of theft at Minn. crash scene

Published 10:16 am Tuesday, August 11, 2015

ST. PAUL  — Authorities said an emergency responder is accused of taking money from a wallet belonging to someone involved in a crash that killed two people in western Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a news release Monday that 42-year-old Tara Lindquist of Dalton has been charged with theft. A criminal complaint said Lindquist was among first responders at the scene of the June crash on Interstate 94 in Otter Tail County.

The department said a crash victim’s family member contacted investigators several days later, saying they believed an unknown amount of cash was missing from victims’ wallets. The complaint said Lindquist admitted to taking money from a billfold at the scene.

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Two teens from Moorhead were killed in the crash, and two others were hurt.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Lindquist has an attorney.