Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 03421
Title: Frank A. Peterson
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 3/25/1907
Summary: Frank A. Peterson - Rugby - February 1963 The little prairie town of some 3,000 souls was stunned and angered the morning of February 3, 1963 when it learned that Frank Peterson, 55, a relief man on the Rugby police force, had been slain by men who had robbed several Rugby business places. The shooting occurred about 4:45 a.m. that Sunday morning. Peterson's body was found by Police Chief Oswald Tafta and Sheriff Walt Miltenberger lying in an alley. His body was riddled with 16 bullets. Officers estimated that some 40 shots had been fired. Bullets had hit nearby buildings and Peterson's own gun apparently had been used to shoot him after he was already down and dead. One pierced his police badge, making officers deduce that the killers had a particular hatred for cops. Peterson is believed to have been on a routine cruise of the town when he spotted the robbers' car. The shots in Peterson's body indicated that he had been caught in a crossfire, because bullets had entered his body from three sides. Apparently one gunman had emptied his gun and even the box which held the shells was dropped there beside the empties. Officers and many others immediately entertained the idea that one of the robbers was a local man. The robberies had indicated that at least one of the men knew the places thoroughly, and why else would they want to make sure Peterson was dead if he wouldn't have recognized at least one of them. What lead to the ultimate apprehension of the robber-murderer was the fact that an area woman was awakened by the shooting. She in turn awakened her husband. The woman's husband said he saw two men shoot and he thought a third man jumped into the police car and backed it away so the get-away car could get out and it sped away. The two suspects arrested on the evening of February 4 were Louis Mattern, 21, Rugby and Frank Linha, 22, Minot. Both were students at a Minot college and were roommates. Lawmen in Minot joined with those of Pierce County and moved in on the pair in a smooth, well-organized operation. Mattern was in the apartment and Linha was taken at a pizza parlor. Mattern was to have met Linha at the restaurant. Neither offered resistance, and neither was armed at the time. Authorities figure the third man Anderson saw was Peterson himself. The arrest of the duo not only cleared up the Rugby robberies and killing, but also solved robberies in Granville, Lansford, Towner, Glenburn, Upham and at least three places in Minot. It is alleged that so much loot was found in the boys' apartment that it couldn't be hauled away in police cars. Included were guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and liquor. Frank A. Peterson was born March 25, 1907, near Barton, ND. He lived in the community all his life. He was survived by his wife, Mabel and his son, Wayne.
Red ID: FND_I_77330 Image ID: 509150 Image Notes: 10950 00002 03421

Collection: FND002 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program honors fallen officers with highlights of their lives and careers.

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