Hennepin County sheriff's major demoted after squad abandoned in ditch near Wisconsin bar

A high-ranking Hennepin County Sheriff's Office official has been demoted and remains on leave after his unmarked squad was found abandoned with a vodka bottle inside in a ditch across the road from a northwestern Wisconsin bar, and authorities in Burnett County were given conflicting stories about who was driving.

In the wake of the SUV's discovery Saturday night across the road from the Northwinds Resort and Bar north of the Rice Lake shoreline, Robert Staupe, 48, took a demotion from major to lieutenant and went on personal leave, according to a letter distributed internally by chief sheriff's deputy Tracey Martin.

http://www.startribune.com/former-hennepin-sheriff-s-office-major-takes-demotion-after-abandoned-squad-found-in-wisconsin-ditch/562082282/