Crime & Safety

UPDATED: St. Michael-Albertville High School Students, Staff Lose One of Their Own

The St. Michael-Albertville School District is dealing with the loss of a student this week after the young man's death was reported to high school staff this morning.

UPDATE (10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20) The student has been identified as Dustin James Harrington, 16, of St. Michael.

Service information and a brief obituary are available on the Peterson Chapel site.

Memorial services are set for Friday morning, with a private burial.

Find out what's happening in St. Michaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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UPDATE (11:10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19): According to a release from the Wright County Sheriff's Department, a 911 call was placed from a St. Michael home around 2:05 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19. The call reported a 16-year-old male was not breathing. When first responders arrived CPR was being performed on the victim. Rescue efforts continued until 3:05 a.m., when the victim was pronounced dead. St. Michael Fire and Allina Ambulance also responded to the scene.

Find out what's happening in St. Michaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The incident remains under investigation by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the Wright County medical examiner’s Office. 

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The Wright County Sheriff's Department has notified the community–administration, students and staff–that a student has died over the weekend.

The student, a male who was in 11th grade, has not been named. He is a minor.

Circumstances surrounding the death will not be released unless a decision is made by law enforcement or the family to make the incident public.

"It's a really sad day and a tragic loss of life," said Dr. Jim Behle, superintendent of schools. "Our condolences certainly go out to family and friends."

The school will enact its crisis emergency plans for both students and staff, Behle said. So-called "comfort rooms" will be available where students can grieve and visit with counselors, if necessary. Social workers are also on staff and available for teachers and students.

"We will continue to monitor the situation, and if it's a particularly tough situation, we do have people throughout the community who can come in as councilors for the students," Behle said.

One thing that is difficult to control, he added, is the rumors that inevitably come to the surface during a situation such as this.

"We caution students against spreading any rumors and just helping their friends who might need support," Behle said.


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