State Representative Mark Olson was arrested Sunday and is in Sherburne County Jail facing charges of domestic abuse, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy Scott Gudmanson said.
Sherburne County authorities were called to the Big Lake Township home Olson shares with his wife, Heidi, at 20945 Sherburne County Road 43 about 5 p.m. Sunday, Gudmanson said. Sherburne County asked Blaine Police Department to arrest Olson at a residence in Blaine, he said.
Olson is being held on allegations of fifth-degree domestic assault. Gudmundson wouldn't release details of the incident. The St. Cloud Times first reported the arrest on its Web site. Minnesota law defines fifth-degree assault as causing physical harm, trying to inflict such harm or causing someone to fear immediate physical harm or death.
"We would have to have probable cause to make an arrest," Gudmundson said, adding that Olson will remain in jail until he appears before a judge. That could happen any time between now and noon Tuesday.
Gudmanson said the alleged victim is Olson’s wife. He would not provide additional details about the events that led to Olson’s arrest. He said the sheriff’s department had not been called to that address before.
The arrest was made at a private school in Blaine at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, almost three hours after authorities were called to the Olsons' Big Lake home.
Blaine Police Chief Dave Johnson said two officers checked Calvin Christian School as a possible location for Olson, his church meets there. He was arrested without incident, handcuffed and transferred to Sherburne County authorities.
Olson, 51, was elected to an eighth term Tuesday to represent District 16B, which includes Big Lake, Clear Lake, Zimmerman, Becker and part of Elk River. Olson was the Republican chairman last session of the Local Government committee, a position he will lose when Democrats take control of the House in January.
He defeated Democrat Jim Huhtala on Tuesday.
(Copyright 2006 by St. Cloud Times. All Rights Reserved.)