Woodbury Police Plan Additional Investigation In Pulkrabek Case

Possible criminal charges against Bill Pulkrabek, the Washington County commissioner against his girlfriend, have been delayed pending further investigation, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Cmdr. Jay Alberio could not comment on the nature of the supplemental investigation.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office issued a statement Wednesday saying a decision would come Thursday on whether a felony charge would be brought against Pulkrabek. But Thursday, officials there said the Woodbury Police Department notified Ramsey County that it is conducting follow-up investigation, prompting the delay.

Ryan Kaess, Pulkrabek’s lawyer, said he had no comment on the delay, or the case in general, other than to say his client denies all of the allegations that have appeared in the press.

“I don’t want to try this in the media,” he said. “We’re going to let the criminal justice system take its normal course.”

Police arrested Pulkrabek, 41, on Monday, May 30, at a Woodbury home where he’s been living. He and his wife, Oakdale Councilwoman Lori Pulkrabek, have been separated for the past six months. She told Patch she was not involved in the incident.

According to a police report, Pulkrabek’s girlfriend told authorities she was in an argument with him when he threw her onto his bed by her hair. He allegedly held her down on the bed and placed his forearm on her neck, which hindered her ability to breathe, the report says.

She pushed and kneed Pulkrabek to get him off of her, according to the report, and he then pulled her down the stairs and out of the home by her hair, the report says.

No medical attention was needed, and alcohol was involved, according to the report.

Pulkrabek, Oakdale’s mayor from 1995-98, did not return a voicemail request for comments.

The incident occurred at the 10900 block of Oak Grove Circle in Woodbury. The home, where Pulkrabek has been living recently, is owned by former state Sen. Brian LeClair, according to Washington County property records.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office was asked to handle the case by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

“Our office will treat this case just like that of any other person accused of domestic violence,” First Assistant Ramsey County Attorney John Kelly said in a statement issued earlier this week.

Commissioner Lisa Weik, who represents the bulk of Woodbury on the county board, called the initial reports "disconcerting."

"But I want to assure the public that the matter will be handled in a timely manner with full transparency and accountability to the taxpayers of this county," she said Tuesday.

Washington County Board Chair Gary Kriesel said the pending charges shouldn't hamper the board's work.

"This is a personal matter that Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek will need to resolve," Kriesel said this week. "In the meantime, it will not affect the work of the Board of Commissioners."

Pulkrabek isn't the only current commissioner who has been arrested while serving. Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, who represents Forest Lake, Mahtomedi, Scandia, White Bear Lake and other cities in the northwest portion of the county, was arrested for drunk driving in 2009.

Pulkrabek represents Oakdale and a portion of Woodbury on the Washington County Board. He was first elected in to the board 1998 and is in his fourth term.