Blood, feces and open bottles found throughout

By Sarah Nigbor

TOWN OF DIAMOND BLUFF – A former Nauti Hawg employee is facing charges after allegedly breaking into the outdoor bar, causing extensive damage, and leaving his belongings behind, leading police to identify him as a suspect.

Jeremy Eugene Ealy, Hager City (recently from Florida), 38, was ordered to pay $500 cash bail on felony burglary – building or dwelling and criminal damage to property charges June 28. If convicted, he faces up to 12.5 years in prison and/or fines up to $25,000. According to the complaint: The owner of the Nauti Hawg called police June 27 to report a possible burglary at the bar (W9852 290th Ave.) in the town of Diamond Bluff. One of the bartenders had found the back/outdoor bar trashed and had a suspect in mind due to belongings found at the scene.

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Jeremy Eugene Ealy Nauti Hawg

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When police arrived, they found a south window ajar. The bartender said it had not been left that way and in fact, they hadn’t used the outdoor bar yet this year. When she last saw the bar, all the liquor bottles were stacked up and the beer coolers were locked. When she opened the door, they saw empty and open bottles everywhere and the cooler’s three doors open; one door’s broken handle was found in an open case of beer. Laying next to the broken handle was a cigarette case the bartender recognized as Ealy’s, who had recently been fired from the bar. The cooler  also contained a spray paint can, an empty Coors Light bottle and open Windsor bottle.

On top of the cooler, the officer found two  open partially drank vodka bottles and multiple beer bottles. At the cooler’s base, police found a knife believed to belong to Ealy.

Near the open window, which is where police believe Ealy entered, straws and other bar items were scattered across the floor and  sink. The culprit had left behind a blue and white shirt, which was tangled up in the legs of a speaker stand, along with a belt. The deputy found feces on the floor and on a stainless  steel table near the window, along with multiple small pools of blood. The report said this was consistent with the odor and injuries Ealy had during another incident the night before in which officers dealt with Ealy, resulting in  his arrest for domestic disorderly conduct.

On the far cooler on the north side, the suspect left open bottles of whiskey and beer strewn about. It appeared someone had rummaged through the stand-up cooler, knocking over beer bottles. Outside the northeast window, which as also ajar, officers found a cell  phone. When they called the number they had for Ealy, the phone rang.

The bartender said a nearby neighbor had found Ealy’s wallet in his back yard, where a man had passed out earlier. The neighbor turned it into the bar because he knew Ealy had worked there.

The bar’s owner said a local had called her the night before to report Ealy was at Nauti Hawg drinking. She had banned Ealy from the bar so she called the bartender and told them to cease serving him. The bartender said Ealy had arrived intoxicated and consumer one shot of brandy while at Nauti Hawg.

When  ovcers  interviewed  Ealy  at  the  Pierce County Jail, where he was being held in relation to a domestic incident, he con- firmed the items found at the trashed bar be longed to him. However, he denied being at Nauti Hawg. He told police the night before he had gone to Liberty’s in Red Wing, where he was hired. He then stopped at the Woodshed, bought a six-pack and had a mixed drink at the bar. He claimed to not remember anything after that.

Ealy is scheduled to appear in Pierce County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. July 18 for a preliminary hearing.