Archives Douglas County
On May 21, 2024, Douglas County Sheriff’s Detective Matthew DeRosia was arrested in Superior, Wisconsin, for an alleged drunken hit-and-run. Police cited him for OWI and hit-and-run, while the sheriff’s office confirmed the matter was under internal review.
Officer Jarid Rankila separated from the Superior Police Department following a misconduct review that resulted in the dismissal of several criminal cases. District Attorney Mark Fruehauf declined to file charges, and the City of Superior finalized administrative employment actions in accordance with policy.
Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf dismissed 40 cases — including 26 felony drug cases — after concluding he could not rely on the credibility of Superior Police Officer Jarid Rankila’s reports and testimony about an April 13, 2024 arrest. Rankila resigned from the force on September 30, 2024. The DA said the dismissals are necessary “in the interests of justice,” even though he does not believe he can prove intentional falsification beyond a reasonable doubt.
Douglas County criminal case 2021CM000014 documents the State of Wisconsin’s charges against Matthew Wayne DeRosia for conduct on January 6, 2021. On May 21, 2021, the disorderly conduct count was reduced to a county ordinance violation with a $330.50 forfeiture, and the domestic abuse-related contact charge was dismissed by the prosecutor. Judgment of conviction and dismissal were entered May 24, 2021, and the court reports a remaining balance of $0.00 owed.
A 2012 Duluth News Tribune investigation revealed that former Superior Police Captain Chad La Lor faced multiple allegations of driving while intoxicated, including incidents dating back to 1999. Though criminal charges were not filed, Superior Police Chief Charles LaGesse cited concerns over La Lor’s truthfulness and loss of departmental confidence following an internal probe.
Judge Barbara B. Crabb’s January 30, 2018 decision in Tia Paradis v. City of Superior and Douglas County granted summary judgment to all defendants. The court found that officers’ handling of Paradis’s frostbite symptoms during her brief detention was not objectively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment and that both the City and County maintained adequate medical policies.
On July 16, 2024, Douglas County Circuit Judge Kelly Thimm presided over the City of Superior v. Ian Cuypers jury trial. The transcript documents opening statements and witness testimony from City Attorney Frog Prell and Officers Justin Taylor, Taylor Gaard, and Matthew Brown regarding Cuypers’s alleged obstruction and traffic violation.