6 September 2023
BENSON, Minn. A misdemeanor failure-to-yield charge has been filed against Swift County Sheriff John Holtz in a crash that injured himself and two others in May.
Holtz, 54, of Appleton, was in a squad vehicle when the crash occurred east of Appleton.
Court records show a single charge of failure to yield to a yield sign. The citation was filed Aug. 31 in Swift County District Court.
No court date was listed in the case as of Tuesday afternoon. The charge says only that an appearance is required by Sept. 30.
A letter from Holtz filed Tuesday, Sept. 5, asks that it be accepted as his plea of not guilty. It also states that he requests the arraignment be waived, that he waives the time requirements and he asks that a pretrial hearing be set.
Holtz did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday from the West Central Tribune.
According to an initial crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol, Holtz was driving a Swift County squad car northbound on 200th Avenue Southwest while a Subaru Impreza was traveling westbound on 90th Street when the two vehicles collided.
Mary Jo Martha Voorhees, 37, of Appleton, was the driver of the Impreza. She and her 5-year-old male passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to the Appleton Area Health Hospital for treatment.
Holtz was also transported to the Appleton hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Road conditions were dry at the time of the crash, reported around 8 a.m. May 24 in Appleton Township. Alcohol was not involved, according to the State Patrol.
Swift County Attorney Danielle Olson filed a notice Sept. 5 appointing a special assistant Swift County attorney for the purpose of any prosecution of Holtz. She appointed Pope County Attorney Neil Nelson and/or Assistant Pope County Attorney Troy Nelson.
The citation data summary notes that it was reviewed by Troy Nelson.
Neither Olson nor Troy Nelson returned messages Tuesday to the West Central Tribune.
Judge David Mennis, who is chambered in Swift County, has recused himself from the case.
According to West Central Tribune archives, Holtz has served as Swift County sheriff since May 2010. He was serving as chief deputy when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of a retiring sheriff. He then won election to the office that November and has served since.
]]>