By Frederick Melo

fmelo@pioneerpress.com

Updated: 12/23/2009 01:27:57 PM CST

Eagan police have identified the St. Paul man who allegedly climbed over a barbed-wire fence and broke into a Dakota Electric substation early this morning, severely burning himself and disrupting power to more than 7,000 homes.

Joe Miller, a spokesman for Dakota Electric, said it appears that suspect and two others were attempting to steal copper from the electric substation when he came into contact with a transmission line carrying 69,000 volts. Police have spoken with witnesses who said they could see a flash of light from miles away.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m., David Stachowiak, 33, was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he remains in stable condition. He is expected to survive, according to police spokeswoman Danielle Anselment.

Two others were arrested near the scene: Alanna Magnuson, 28, of St. Paul, and Brad Krekelberg, 31, of St. Paul. They were taken into custody on suspicion of felony damage to property, booked at the Eagan police department and released.

Power was restored at about 3 a.m.

"In my 12 years here, we have not had any incident like this," Miller said.

A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and a canine team from the Dakota County Sheriff's office assisted in the investigation. Anselment said police will work with the Dakota County Attorney's office to determine appropriate charges.

The substation, located on Deerwood Drive west of Interstate 35E, serves Dakota Electric customers in western and southwestern parts of the city.

Miller said the suspect cut barbed wire at the top a chain-link fence and then climbed onto a transformer before contacting the 69,000-volt transmission line.

Dakota Electric provides electricity to more than 100,000 customers in Dakota County and portions of Goodhue, Rice and Scott counties by purchasing power from providers. The transmission line brings the electricity into the substation, where it is effectively "stepped down" or divided up into lower voltages and then redistributed to customer's homes.

In July 2007, Stachowiak entered a guilty plea to stealing gas in Ramsey County. He was sentenced to serve a year on probation.

In November 2000, he pleaded guilty in Ramsey County to drug possession and was later ordered to serve three years in prison.

Submitted on 12/27/2009

Submitted by: Mark
Reference: http://www.twincities.com/ci_14057147 12/23/09

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James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Apparently, this ne'er do well lived to tell the tale! Darwin will want this one...

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
A crispy critter survived! Whoa...

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