By US~Observer Staff
Walnut Grove, MN – Police Chief Michael Zeug was arrested in Redwood Falls after soliciting sex with an undercover Department of Homeland Security agent disguised as a 17-year-old girl by texting her in response to an ad on Craigslist. Zeug is charged with felony attempting to solicit sex from a minor, according to his indictment. He has now been suspended, indefinitely. Sadly, the mistrust of police has now touched the small town of Walnut Grove, also known as the setting for the famous television series, “Little House on the Prarie.”
According to a Fox 9 report, “During an exchange of messages, Zeug responded that ‘yeah this isn’t my first time’ and ‘humm yeah I’m wanting to meet up but man you need to reassure me your not working with the cops and crap.’ When the undercover agent asked, ‘Dude. R u a cop? If you are you have to tell me,’ Zeug responded, “I’m no f—ing pig.’
“Zeug arranged a meeting outside a house in Redwood Falls, asked for nude photos and wanted her to flash her breasts to assure him she was not in law enforcement,” the charging document read. Adding to his guilt, Zeug acknowledge the girl’s age, saying “you’re only 17.”
Zeug who is married, and has children, was found with a law enforcement radio to monitor police channels while he attempted to meet the minor girl. During an emergency city council meeting, The Walnut Grove City Council suspended Zeug without pay.
The county prosecutor said the charges will be handled by a neighboring county to avoid conflict of interest. “It’s a complete betrayal. I’ve known Mike Zeug for many, many years and have relied on him to bring cases forward from Walnut Grove because we’re the prosecuting authority in Walnut Grove. I was shocked,” according to Steve Collins, the elected prosecutor.
This case is yet another example of how those with authority are violating the public trust of police. A highly trusted man, the Chief of his department, set aside his oath, his family, and the public he serves, in his reported attempt to rape and sexually abuse a minor girl.
Another way of looking at this case could be: An officer of the law was entrapped by his own department. What was the ad that was placed? What did it say? Did it purport to be someone of age on its face? Does Craigslist require all persons visiting that site be at least 18 or older? Regardless of this persons stature, there are laws that can be broken in pursuit of conviction. That is nothing new.
