Stabbing not related to Sunday’s homicide

The Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male party stabbed in Pine Point in Becker County at 2:27 a.m., on Thursday, June 29.

Upon arrival of law enforcement, the victim, James Kettle, 34, Ponsford, was conscious but had a wound to the chest. The male suspect, identified as Marcus Lee Waybenais, 25, of Walker, left prior to the arrival of law enforcement. 

Kettle was transported to Essentia Hospital-St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes. His condition is currently unknown. 

Waybenais was arrested on suspected charges for 1st and 2nd Degree Assault several hours later in that same area and transported to the Becker County Jail. 

Formal charges are pending review by the Becker County Attorney’s Office. Agencies that responded to this incident were the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, White Earth Police Department, North Memorial Ambulance Service, and Carsonville Fire/Rescue.

On Sunday, June 25, David Wayne Hanks, Jr., 35, of Park Rapids, was shot in a vehicle and was found dead at the scene in Pine Point at 6:30 p.m.

“This incident is not related to the homicide investigation from June 25,” Sheriff Todd Glander said in a press release about Thursday’s stabbing.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Michael Dwayne Croud, 40, of Ogema, for second-degree murder, with intent. Croud has been identified as a suspect in the murder case.

A SWAT team raided an apartment building in Moorhead Tuesday, June 27, searching for Croud, but the suspect was not located there.

Anyone with information related to the shooting incident, or who may know the location of Croud, should contact the Becker County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 847-2661.

The White Earth Police Department, Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, West Central Drug Task Force, Headwaters Safe Trails Drug Task Force, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, White Earth Conservation, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting the Becker County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.