EGF man charged after firing at squirrels, striking neighbor’s home

An East Grand Forks man has been charged with two weapons-related offenses for allegedly firing a .22-caliber rifle in city limits and striking a neighboring home.

According to Polk County District Court documents, 76-year-old Michael Powers admitted that he fired the rifle that hit the nearby home six times – including a child’s bedroom window – on Dec. 4th.

Powers told East Grand Forks Police he was shooting from his bedroom window at a squirrel on top of his bird feeder – and said it was not the first time he had done so.

Police say Powers told officers he had shot at squirrels at least six times over the past two years because he considered it “war” when they got into his bird feeder.

Powers said he had no idea he was hitting the house.

The neighbors called police earlier, and said they noticed holes in their home’s siding and their son’s bedroom window, which appeared to be from BBs.

Police recovered two .22-caliber rounds from the siding and one from the bedroom window ledge.

In Powers’ bedroom, police observed a box of ammunition, ear plugs, a shell casing and some loose rounds.

Powers is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Dec. 15.

He faces a felony charge which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine… and a misdemeanor charge punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.