Beltrami County Sheriff's Office - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incident of Dec. 29, 2007
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office advises that the two people involved in the carbon monoxide
poisoning incident which occurred on December 29, 2007 at 5:33 AM were Catherine Brewster and Charles Bartz
of Pennington, MN. Brewster was treated and released from the North Country Regional Hospital with minor
bruises from a fall she took upon vacating the residence and Bartz, who was transferred to the Hennepin County
Medical Center, remains there where he is undergoing further treatment.
Brewster called 911 to report their symptoms and was able to tell the dispatcher that
she felt that propane was possibly the source of the problem. She had also, with great difficulty, managed to open a
door to allow air into the home. She was further instructed by the 911 Communications Officer to vacate the residence,
along with Bartz, and to seek fresh air and not return to the home. After vacating the residence, Bartz remained on
the phone with 911 to monitor their conditions until the emergency medical personnel and deputies arrived on scene.
The residence was a new home with a wood and propane boiler. The propane portion of the boiler had not
been utilized prior to the early morning hours of December 29. The lethal levels of carbon monoxide appeared to have
emanated from the use of that new element.
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Ambulance and the Cass Lake Fire Department
responded to the call.
Phil Hodapp, Sheriff |
