Hiding son ends in arrest

A Superior man is facing charges for trying to protect his son.

The problem was Jeffrey Scott Rantala Sr. was trying to protect his son, a junior, from an arrest warrant by nailing him into a cabinet.

According to the criminal complaint, the 46-year-old father is facing charges of obstructing an officer and bail jumping after police found his son kicking his way through a wall to escape a cabinet that was nailed shut.

The complaint states:

The elder Rantala repeatedly refused to let Superior police search his home at 4929 Huron Drive when officers showed up based a tip that the younger Rantala, 25, wanted on warrants, was there.

Officers then contacted a supervisor who called the father at home and convinced him officers would leave him alone if they didn’t find his son there.

Superior Police Officer Timothy Monte reported hearing “a lot of banging going on inside the residence” as he waited outside.

The elder Rantala allowed the search. As two officers searched a utility room, the younger Rantala kicked the wall out and stated he gives up.

One officer took the son into custody; another arrested the father. The bail jumping charge was leveled because the elder Rantala smelled of alcohol and a condition of his bond on an unrelated fourth offense drunk driving charge is not to consume alcohol.

Rantala entered a not guilty plea in connection with obstructing an officer during his initial appearance earlier this week. Cash bail of $400 was ordered. His next appearance is Sept. 24.

Tags: superior, police, arrest, dumb, criminal