Man gives in to peer pressure, faces charges

Peer pressure may have nudged a Superior man to commit two botched burglaries. Wyatt Marzolf, 20, is accused of helping acquaintances break into a South Superior restaurant the day after Christmas and ransack a town of Superior residence in September.

He appeared in Douglas County Circuit Court on Friday to face two counts of party to the crime of burglary.

According to the criminal complaints, employees of Rich’s Cafe, 5802 Tower Ave., found damage to the building at 5 a.m. Dec. 26. A window had been broken, apparently with a piece of wood, and the cash register had been opened. Both the cash register and a cupboard had been rummaged through. Two $10 gift cards had been taken.

Police interviews of two suspects — Marzolf and Dean Swenson — indicated that Marzolf drove to rural Douglas County to pick up Swenson and another man. As Marzolf was driving into town, Swenson suggested breaking into the cafe. Marzolf parked the car a block away while the other two punched out the window. They then “chickened out,” and returned to the car, according to the complaint. After going to a bar to have a beer, one of the men Marzolf picked up said he wanted to break into the business. They drove back to the restaurant and Marzolf again parked a block away. He remained in the car while one of the men went into the building and returned with two gift cards.

Marzolf claims a friend led him into the September incident, as well. The Superior man told police that Danny Tarver wanted to break into a Town of Superior home to get money and property for illegal drugs, according to the criminal complaint. After Tarver knocked on the door to make sure nobody was home, the two parked the car on a logging road about a mile away. They entered the residence and started rummaging through a back bedroom.

The owners returned home while the two men were in the house. Marzolf and Tarver hid in the bedroom until an elderly man entered. Tarver punched the 68-year-old man in the face and the two ran out the door. The punch broke the homeowner’s nose, according to the complaint.

Marzolf told officers the burglary was not his idea and he only acted as the lookout. He said he “felt bad” for the elderly male getting hit.

Bail was set at $500 cash for the two cases, with the condition that Marzolf have no contact with the homeowner or the restaurant. A preliminary hearing for both cases will be held Feb. 20.

Tarver, 28, Duluth, faces charges of burglary and substantial battery for the incident, according to court records. He made his initial appearance in court Jan. 25. As a condition of a $1,000 signature bond, he is to have no contact with the homeowners.

In the Rich’s Cafe incident, Swenson, 26, faces a similar count of being party to the crime of burglary and one count of criminal damage to property. The Superior man made his initial appearance in court last month. As a condition of his $2,000 signature bond, Swenson is to have no contact with Rich’s Corner Cafe.

A third man mentioned in the complaint so far is facing no charges.

Tags: superior, man, burglaries, restaurant, damage, cafe, gift, cards