(Estherville)– A judge in Emmet county has granted separate trials and a change of venue for three former Armstrong officials facing a variety of charges stemming back to February 2021. It stems from an investigation by the state that involved former Mayor Gregg Buum, Connie Thackery, who was City Clerk at the time, and the city’s former Police Chief, Craig Merril.
The ruling by Judge Jeffrey Neary says having a joint trial for all three would have been complicated, given the different jobs each defendant had with the community.
Neary’s order granting the change of location for a trial sites extensive media coverage and the fact the defendants know so many people in the community could cause issues in seating a jury.
