Duluth man disputes bad check allegations

A Duluth man disputes information Duluth police recently released about his allegedly issuing checks to area merchants drawn on closed bank accounts.

Gale A. Rachuy, 60, said Friday he has never written checks to the five businesses listed in a Duluth police report released Sept. 3.

Duluth police said last week the five businesses may have received one check “per the check ledger in police custody.”

When contacted about Rachuy’s denial, Duluth police spokesman Brad Wick said the department issued a warning to area merchants on Sept. 3 after receiving information from merchants or authorities in other jurisdictions.

Wick said Duluth police assisted in Rachuy’s arrest earlier this month on

federal charges of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. Rachuy was being arraigned last week in federal court and has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are set for trial on Jan. 10.

Rachuy sued the cities of Superior and Duluth last year in federal court, claiming that police ruined up to 10 truckloads of green-sawn lumber belonging to him during a search of a John Avenue warehouse he rented.

Rachuy was never charged with a crime in connection with the search, and he said he suffered a $300,000 loss when he sold the lumber. The suit, filed Oct. 19, 2009, was dismissed on Dec. 1 by Magistrate Peter Oppeneer for lack of jurisdiction. District Judge Barbara Crabb presided over the case.

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