Capt. Rude's trial set for November

Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota)
BYLINE: Janice Gregorson, Post-Bulletin

Austin, MN

Jul. 17--The trial for an Austin police official accused of illegally taking prescription drugs from the department's evidence room is now slated for November.

Olmsted District Judge Kevin Lund has been assigned to preside over the case involving Capt. Curt Rude. The trial will be held in Rochester.

Rude, a 23-year veteran with the Austin Police Department, was charged in late 2007 with felony and gross misdemeanor offenses. He was charged with felony theft, accused of illegally taking a package containing the prescription painkiller OxyContin from the police evidence room. He also is charged with felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime for illegally being in possession of the drug. And, he is charged with gross misdemeanor interfering with property in official custody. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

In February, Lund granted a defense motion for a change of venue for the trial from Mower to Olmsted County. The trial date is now set for Nov. 2.

In April, a notice was filed of a change in Rude's defense counsel. He originally had been represented by Terence Maus of Rochester. He now is represented by Minneapolis attorney Peter Wold.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
International Association for Property and Evidence
"Law Enforcement Serving the Needs of Law Enforcement"
www.IAPE.org