On January 14, 2022, I was unlawfully detained by Deputy Carl Hawkinson while lawfully recording in public. What followed was a campaign of retaliation involving a false harassment restraining order, misuse of Pine County resources, and coordinated efforts to silence protected speech. This site preserves the full record — the timeline, filings, exhibits, and video evidence — so the truth cannot be buried.
Who Is Accountable
Pine County Attorney Reese Frederickson
Retaliatory misuse of prosecutorial authority.
Issuing threatening and intimidating correspondence.
Improper involvement in harassment proceedings.
Requested information that led to the unlawful disclosure of private permit data.
Abuse of public office under color of law.
As Pine County Attorney, Reese Frederickson was entrusted with upholding the law and protecting the rights of citizens. Instead, he used the weight of his office to retaliate against a lawful critic. His actions went beyond negligence — they were intentional steps to intimidate, silence, and punish constitutionally protected activity. By requesting information that resulted in the release of private permit data, Frederickson tied his office directly to an unlawful disclosure and to the retaliatory campaign against me.
Pine County Sheriff Jeff Nelson
Failure to investigate a sworn complaint of unlawful detention.
Deliberate indifference to civil rights violations.
Issued a written dismissal without conducting inquiry.
Shielded subordinates from accountability.
As Pine County Sheriff, Jeff Nelson had a direct duty to investigate credible complaints of unlawful detention and abuse of authority. Instead, he dismissed a sworn complaint without appropriate inquiry, protecting misconduct rather than addressing it. By refusing to act, Nelson demonstrated deliberate indifference to civil rights violations, undermining public trust and enabling a culture of impunity within his office.
Pine County Deputy Carl Hawkinson #544
Unlawful detention during a constitutionally protected activity.
False and misleading statements in sworn filings.
Misuse of harassment restraining order process for retaliation.
Abuse of authority under color of law.
As a sworn deputy, Carl Hawkinson initiated this chain of misconduct by unlawfully detaining me while I was engaged in a constitutionally protected activity — recording in public. Rather than correct his overreach, Hawkinson doubled down with false and misleading statements in sworn filings, escalating the violation into perjury. By misusing the harassment restraining order process as a tool of retaliation, he weaponized the courts against lawful speech, abusing his badge and authority under color of law.
Pine County Administrator David J. Minke
Supervisory negligence in oversight of county operations.
Permitted retaliation against constitutionally protected speech.
Failed to enforce accountability across departments.
Enabled a culture of misconduct through inaction.
As Pine County Administrator, David J. Minke held responsibility for ensuring lawful operations and accountability across county government. Instead, he allowed systemic retaliation against protected speech to occur under his supervision. By failing to enforce oversight or intervene in known misconduct, Minke reinforced a culture of negligence and impunity. His inaction made him complicit in the broader campaign to silence lawful criticism and shield officials from accountability.
Together, these officials created and sustained a system where misconduct was protected, retaliation was tolerated, and constitutional rights were trampled. The record preserved here documents their actions through sworn filings, court proceedings, and public evidence.
This list is not necessarily exhaustive. As additional officials’ actions are revealed through discovery, records requests, or new filings, their names will be added here to ensure the full scope of accountability is made public.
Timeline at a Glance
January 14, 2022 — Unlawful Detention
Deputy Carl Hawkinson unlawfully detained me while I was lawfully recording in public. This single act of misconduct ignited everything that followed.
February 2022 — Retaliatory HRO Filed
Instead of accountability, Pine County doubled down. A false harassment restraining order was pushed forward, weaponizing the courts to silence protected speech.
May 2022 — Settlement Dismissal
The harassment case collapsed. Dismissed by settlement, it left no penalties, no restrictions, and no findings against me — a retreat that exposed the weakness of the county’s campaign.
Post-Settlement (2022–2024) — Cover-Up and Indifference
Even after dismissal, I filed sworn complaints detailing perjury, retaliation, and systemic violations. Pine County officials turned a blind eye, refusing to act as my understanding of the depth of their illegality grew clearer.
2025 — Criminal Charges Filed and Federal Civil Suit Launched
When county officials ignored repeated complaints, I filed formal criminal charges and initiated a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pine County’s leadership continues to look away, but the record now sits before the courts.
Why This Case Matters
This case is about more than one citizen. It is about whether government officials can weaponize their offices to silence critics, retaliate against speech, and ignore sworn complaints without consequence. What happened in Pine County is not an isolated event — it is part of a larger question of accountability and constitutional rights.