Hatchet-wielding woman faces felonies 
by Karyn Eckert
The Star News
November 12, 2009 —  A woman accused of chasing her boyfriend with a hatchet and striking his car with it has been charged with first degree reckless endangerment.
In addition to the class F felony count, Susan S. Pietraszewski, 42, Blaine, Minn., is also charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct–domestic abuse.
According to the criminal complaint filed November 3 in Taylor County Circuit Court, a man reported his girlfriend, Pietraszewski, chased him to his car with an axe at a Town of Jump River residence. The man stated he and Pietraszewski had been seeing each other for about two months and came from Minnesota to Jump River to stay with his friend. The man told deputies on October 18 he broke up with Pietraszewski because she was “fooling around” on him and threw her clothes outside in a truck parked near the residence they were staying in. He said an argument ensued and Pietraszewski came after him with an axe. When he attempted to leave, she struck the front of the car with it. The man said Pietraszewski also made threats to “slit his throat” and would kill him and his family. She also stated she was going to get some “biker dudes” to come to the area and cause trouble. The man went on to state he “was scared for his life because she was drunk and crazy.”
Officers observed damage to the man’s car, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, which had an impression on it similar to what an axe would impose.
The man also said there was an incident the day before at the same residence. He said while they were arguing, Pietraszewski cut him on the arm with a knife. The deputy observed a small cut approximately 2-3 inches on his left forearm.
Two deputies went to the residence and located a woman in a camper parked in the driveway. Pietraszewski appeared to be packing her belongings in a bag and said she had a ride coming from Minnesota to pick her up. She said she and the man had had an argument and admitted to telling him something to the effect that she was going to “knock his head off.”
The deputy reported, “When asked about an axe being involved, Susan rolled her eyes in disbelief.” Pietraszewski said she made firewood earlier that day but denied ever threatening anybody with an axe or striking the man’s vehicle with it. She also denied cutting him with a knife. While speaking to her, deputies detected a strong odor of intoxicants emitting from her person and her speech was slurred and her eyes glassy.
A witness confirmed seeing Pietraszewski strike the man’s car with a hatchet she picked up from a table in the yard. She was arrested and taken to the Taylor County Jail.
Pietraszewski was released from jail November 2 after posting the required $500 cash bond and signing a $500 signature bond. She is scheduled to be in court November 24 for an initial appearance.

Return to main
Go to next story