A story that got everyone’s attention as it made national headlines finally came to an end. After a news conference Thursday, police announced that they will return to the waitress the $12,000 left behind in a to-go box at the Fryn’ Pan in Moorhead. According to Assistant Clay County Attorney Michelle Lawson, the money couldn’t be tied to a criminal investigation, and the waitress would receive a check for $12,000. It all began when Stacy Knutson noticed a to-go box from a different restaurant while waiting tables at the Fryn’Pan. When she tried to give the box to the anonymous girl, she rejected the offer when she said “No, I am good; you keep it.” Knutson then contacted to police after finding the bundled rolls of cash in the box. Police had told Knutson if the money wasn’t claimed, she would receive the money, but instead police seized it saying it was part of a drug investigation. But after police were unable to link the cash to a specific crime, it became reality that the money would be returned to Knutson. Craig Richie, Knutson’s lawyer, said at the news conference he took the case for free, having never seen a similar situation in nearly 40 years of practicing law. Stacy Knutson and her family of five children, said they would likely use the money to pay off bills. During the conference, Lawson also thanked Knutson for turning in the money, citing public safety concerns involved whenever a person finds a large sum of cash. With a positive end result for Knutson, Lawson also noted during the conference that the process was crumbled by many negative messages directed at police. “This fantastic police department has received more messages and more calls that are negative and menacing and threatening,” Lawson said. “Shame on people for that.”
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