On a fall evening in 1961, Fillmore County Deputy Sheriff Walter Kruegel set out to do something routine — transport a man under arrest back to Preston. But what should have been a simple drive to the county jail would become one of the most shocking tragedies in local history.

Just outside the city limits of Preston, gunshots rang out from inside the deputy’s car. Kruegel, a well-known and respected law officer, had been shot by the very man he was taking into custody.

Though wounded, the deputy managed to stop the car and stagger into a nearby grocery store for help. The suspect fled into the countryside, launching a massive manhunt across Fillmore County.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the tragic shooting of Deputy Walter Kruegel — the investigation, the arrest, the court proceedings that followed, and the lasting impact the event had on the community of Preston.

It’s a story of duty, tragedy, and a moment that forever changed Fillmore County law enforcement history.

Sources:
Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) newspaper reports, court proceedings, and Fillmore County records.