Kloth appears in court

HURLEY — A $5,000 signature bond was set in Iron County Court Monday for a 26-year-old Stevens Point woman who faces charges related to a heated confrontation at the site of a proposed iron mine.

Katie Kloth, 26, is charged with felony robbery and three misdemeanors related to a June 11 disturbance with Gogebic-Taconite employees at the site of mine drilling in the town of Anderson, near Upson.

Kloth, wearing a “Save the Penokees” shirt, appeared with her attorney, John Bachman, of Eau Claire.

The criminal complaint filed by Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske alleges Kloth, identified by other protesters as “Krow,” used force to grab and destroy a camera, wrestling it away from a G-Tac employee.

As Kloth was pulling at the camera from the female employee, a man with blue hair came from behind and grabbed a phone out of the employee's back pocket, according to the complaint.

There was a group of 15 to 20 protesters that day, with their faces partially covered by bandanas. They first began throwing soda cans and shouting obscenities at G-Tac employees when their backs were turned.

The complaint says protesters then climbed onto drilling equipment at the site and began throwing around shovels and other items.

Some equipment belonging to the Idea Drilling company was also damaged. After the incident, the first day of drilling was delayed until the next morning.

Kloth is also charged with being a party to the crime of theft, criminal damage to property and being a party to criminal damage to property.

Total damages at the site were estimated at $2,400.

Acting Judge Sam Filippo set the bond recommended by Lipske under conditions that Kloth have no contact with the victim, nor threatening behavior to G-Tac or Idea Drilling employees.

Kloth waived her right to a preliminary examination within 20 days and a future court date will be set.

Filippo noted no arrest warrant had been served, but he found there was probable cause for the arrest.

Kloth was fingerprinted and booked at the Iron County Jail after the hearing.

About 20 people attended the Monday afternoon court hearing, with about a half-dozen law enforcement officers present.