Opinion ID: 2788483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Theft of the Truck

Text: In the early morning hours of June 18, 2012, Tammy Behning (“Tammy”) and her family were at their home in Saginaw, Minnesota, when they heard someone start the 1989 GMC pickup truck (the “truck”) parked outside that belonged to Tammy’s younger son, Travis Behning (“Behning”). Behning left Tammy’s home earlier that evening. After hearing the truck start, Tammy’s older son, Dustin Behning, jumped in his vehicle and attempted without success to follow the truck as it sped off. Tammy called 9-1-1 and reported the theft. She also contacted Behning who lived in nearby Proctor, Minnesota, and informed him that his truck had been stolen. Upon hearing the news, Behning began driving towards Tammy’s home in his other vehicle. After driving for ten to fifteen minutes, Behning passed the truck traveling the opposite way on the highway. He turned his vehicle around, flashed his headlights, and began following. The driver of the truck, later discovered to be Petruk, eventually pulled over and exited from the driver side door. When Behning 1 We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. -2- attempted to confront Petruk, Petruk ran back to the truck and drove off. Behning continued to follow. A short time later, Petruk crossed over a small bridge and stopped the truck. Behning, still following, stopped approximately ten feet behind the truck. Petruk exited the truck and started “charging” toward Behning who remained in the driver’s seat of his vehicle speaking with Tammy on the phone. When Petruk reached the window, he demanded that Behning get off the phone. Before Behning could roll up the window, Petruk swung a hammer towards Behning’s head. Behning grabbed the hammer before it hit him and Petruk pulled Behning’s arm down onto the window pane causing a bruise. Petruk regained control of the hammer. As Behning began to drive off, Petruk smashed the rear driver side window of Behning’s vehicle with the hammer. Petruk briefly followed Behning in the truck before turning the opposite direction. Behning then attempted to follow Petruk but eventually lost sight of the truck. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement located the truck abandoned in a nearby ditch. Behning subsequently identified Petruk from a photo line-up. A sample of Petruk’s DNA matched DNA found on the steering wheel of the truck and a hammer found inside the truck.