Wyoming man charged over screw 'spike strip' by park
Kyle James Steffen, 38, of Wyoming, Minnesota, was charged in Chisago County after police say he placed a screw-studded "pitfall" along the edge of Goodview Park; the complaint came April 28, 2026.[1]
Authorities say the device was a roughly 3-foot by 5-inch plastic strip with about 40 three-inch screws pointing upward.[1] It was anchored in grass bordering the park's popular bike path, police said.[1]
Police received a complaint about the device on April 28, 2026, and later identified the suspect as 38-year-old Steffen.[1] Steffen told officers he placed the strip to keep children off his lawn and that he had yelled at them "hundreds of times," but he said he did not intend to injure anyone.[1] Chisago County prosecutors filed one count accusing him of setting a pitfall, deadfall or snare.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: Kyle James Steffen, 38, of Wyoming, Minnesota
- Charge: One count of setting a pitfall/deadfall/snare, filed in Chisago County
- Alleged device: 3‑foot by 5‑inch plastic strip with about 40 three‑inch screws pointing up, anchored in grass bordering Goodview Park
- Incident date: Complaint reported to Wyoming Police Department on April 28, 2026
- Steffen statement: Admitted placing device to keep kids off his lawn, saying he had yelled at them "hundreds of times" but claimed he did not intend injury
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