St. Cloud Times Article

[lars0926]

"St. Cloud man may see charges in assault with manual ice auger

Criminal charges could be filed today in an assault that happened after two St. Cloud friends argued about where to ice fish, Stearns County authorities said.

Deputies believe Thomas Earl Sigler, 29, hit Michael Louis Olson, 25, with a manually operated ice auger after the Wednesday afternoon argument, Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold said.

Sigler was being held Thursday in Stearns County Jail. He's expected to be charged today with second-degree assault, Bechtold said.

An ambulance took Olson to St. Cloud Hospital.

He suffered cuts to his left arm from the attack, Bechtold said. The hospital had no information about Olson as of late Thursday.

Deputies were called about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to Beaver Lake after a man reported he was assaulted. Deputies believe Olson and Sigler went fishing together. Sigler was carrying Olson's ice auger and Olson carried the bait as they walked on the lake, Bechtold said.

The two men were trying to decide where to drill holes and begin fishing when they started to argue about which spot was best, Bechtold said. Authorities believe Olson picked up the bait and started to walk toward the spot he thought was best when Sigler hit him with the auger.

Kimball rescue workers and Department of Natural Resources officers helped Stearns County deputies at the scene."

[Ray Esboldt]

I haven't hit anyone with an auger in years!

[Farley]

i dont care who you are, that's funny right there.

[cyberamish]

Never with an auger......but I have assaulted my brother in law with a half frozen 'pout. Hope he doesn't press charges!!