Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

by JENNIFER ABBEY
April 5, 2012
Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems.

But that "miracle" quickly came and went after police seized a $12,000 tip that was left at her table. Knutson filed a lawsuit in Clay County District Court stating that the money is rightfully hers. Police argue it is drug money.

Knutson was working at the Fryn' Pan in Moorhead, Minn., when, according to her attorney, Craig Richie, a woman left a to-go box from another restaurant on the table. Knutson followed the woman to her car to return the box to her.

"No I am good, you keep it," the woman said, according to the lawsuit.

Knutson did not know the woman and has not seen her since, Richie said. Knutson thought it was "strange" that the woman told her to keep it but she took it inside. The box felt too heavy to be leftovers, Ritchie said, so she opened it -- only to find bundles of cash wrapped in rubber bands.

"Even though I desperately needed the money as my husband and I have five children, I feel I did the right thing by calling the Moorhead Police," Knutson said in the lawsuit.

Police seized the money and originally told Knutson that if no one claimed it after 60 days, it was hers. She was later told 90 days, Richie said. When 90 days passed, Knutson was still without the $12,000.

Police told Knutson the money was being held as "drug money" and she would receive a $1,000 reward instead, the lawsuit states. Lt. Tory Jacobson of the Moorhead police said he could not disclose much information about the case because it is an ongoing investigation.


"With turning this money over to us, we initiated an investigation to determine whose money this is," Jacobson told ABC News. "The result has been a narcotics investigation."

Police argue that the money had a strong odor of marijuana and therefore falls under a law that allows for forfeiture of the money because it was in the proximity of a controlled substance, the lawsuit states. But there were no drugs in the box and Richie said he believes this law is not being used correctly.

"Because it was in contact with drugs somewhere along the line, it's somehow drug money," Richie said. "This isn't drug money."

A police dog also performed a sniff test on the money and, according to the dog's handler, discovered an odor.

Two of Knutson's co-workers, along with her son Brandon, were at the Fryn' Pan the night she discovered the money. Her co-workers say they did not smell marijuana.

"I know the smell of marijuana," Nickolas Fronning, a line cook at the Fryn' Pan, said in an affidavit. "I can also assure you that there was no smell of marijuana on the bills or coming from the box."

There was nothing suspicious in the restaurant when the money was found, co-workers said. They don't why it was given to Knutson.

"She was just in the right place at the right time," Tracy Johnson, the assistant manager at the Fryn' Pan, told ABC News.

Knutson's family has had a long financial struggle. She has been a waitress at the Fryn' Pan for 18 years.

"We do everything we can to make ends meet, but often times everything is not covered," she said in the lawsuit.

Knutson's financial woes are well-known in her church, Richie said. She believes that perhaps someone from the church gave her the money through this woman but did not want to be identified.

"Somebody knew she really needed the money and she needed to be helped," Richie said.

Jacobson says it is up to the judge to decide who the money rightfully belongs to.

"The police department doesn't have a decision on either side," Jacobson said. "She did the right thing, we credit her with that. It's certainly not the police department against her. We're actually with her."

But Richie said he firmly believes this is not drug money and it rightfully belongs to Knutson.

"The only thing that smells bad about this is that it's unfair," Richie said. "So that's why we're doing something about it."

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/struggling-minnesota-waitress-sues-police-seize-12000-tip/story?id=16074433#.T33JyvBumfU

Message edited 4/5/2012 12:38:34 PM.

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

It's certainly an odd case - I think the police are just covering their behinds here. The money doesn't go to them, they have nothing to gain by withholding the money from her. Hopefully the judge will rule in her favor.

HOWEVER, this sounds incredibly suspicious and I actually do believe that the money could have been from a drug sale and the woman left it behind because she was under investigation.

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

This is really odd.

She did the right thing by turning it in...she very well could've just kept it. The police too are covering their asses by trying to figure out what's going on.

Either way, it's odd that a stranger would just leave it there so it makes me suspicious of the fact that it may be involved in drugs or something else. If it was given to her by the church, I'm sure the church could've come up with a better way to do so.

For her sake, I hope they resolve this soon and it works out in her favor.

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

That bites. I wouldn't have turned it in to the police! I never would have even THOUGHT to!

heck of a Tips/Wages line she'll have next year huh? Uncle Sam will get his Hope she gets something.

Wonder how much the attorney will get as well.

I'm sure this public attention will get her 'help' regardless. Since her name is out there and I'm sure she's still working there since they mention it twice, I will BET the restaurant gets MORE business as a result of this and she gets more tips.

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

Update:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/07/waitress-gets-to-keep-12000-tip-seized-by-police/?hpt=hp_t3

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

Posted by GoldenRod

Update:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/07/waitress-gets-to-keep-12000-tip-seized-by-police/?hpt=hp_t3

Last November, Minnesota waitress Stacy Knutson received what was quite possibly the world’s most generous tip. So generous that after the customer refused to take it back, Knutson turned the $12,000 in to police.

Initially, authorities told Knutson, a server at Fryn’ Pan Restaurant in Moorhead, Minn., and a mother of five, that she could keep the cash if no one claimed it within 60 days, Reuters reports. When those two months were up, officials then told her she wouldn’t be getting the money at all, as it allegedly smelled of marijuana and had been seized under state law. As a reward for turning the cash in, police offered her $1,000. Knutson refused and promptly filed suit.

As it turns out, the police changed their minds, and the $12,000 is being returned to Knutson, according to her attorney, Craig Richie. He told Reuters that several members of the community knew Knutson and her husband were facing considerable financial woes, and he believes the money was intended as a gift to her family. Assistant Clay County Attorney Michelle Lawson said the money couldn’t be tied to a criminal investigation, and Knutson will soon receive a check.

“We argued that most money that you carry in your pocket has drug residue on it,” Richie told CBS. “She could’ve kept the money and nobody would’ve known. But she said, ‘No, I’m going to do the right thing.’ So she called police and now integrity has now prevailed.”

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

Posted by Mrs213

Posted by GoldenRod

Update:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/07/waitress-gets-to-keep-12000-tip-seized-by-police/?hpt=hp_t3

Last November, Minnesota waitress Stacy Knutson received what was quite possibly the world’s most generous tip. So generous that after the customer refused to take it back, Knutson turned the $12,000 in to police.

Initially, authorities told Knutson, a server at Fryn’ Pan Restaurant in Moorhead, Minn., and a mother of five, that she could keep the cash if no one claimed it within 60 days, Reuters reports. When those two months were up, officials then told her she wouldn’t be getting the money at all, as it allegedly smelled of marijuana and had been seized under state law. As a reward for turning the cash in, police offered her $1,000. Knutson refused and promptly filed suit.

As it turns out, the police changed their minds, and the $12,000 is being returned to Knutson, according to her attorney, Craig Richie. He told Reuters that several members of the community knew Knutson and her husband were facing considerable financial woes, and he believes the money was intended as a gift to her family. Assistant Clay County Attorney Michelle Lawson said the money couldn’t be tied to a criminal investigation, and Knutson will soon receive a check.

“We argued that most money that you carry in your pocket has drug residue on it,” Richie told CBS. “She could’ve kept the money and nobody would’ve known. But she said, ‘No, I’m going to do the right thing.’ So she called police and now integrity has now prevailed.”

Oh she had $$$ to hire an attorney?

This story is so weird

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

Posted by MsSissy

Posted by Mrs213

Posted by GoldenRod

Update:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/07/waitress-gets-to-keep-12000-tip-seized-by-police/?hpt=hp_t3

Last November, Minnesota waitress Stacy Knutson received what was quite possibly the world’s most generous tip. So generous that after the customer refused to take it back, Knutson turned the $12,000 in to police.

Initially, authorities told Knutson, a server at Fryn’ Pan Restaurant in Moorhead, Minn., and a mother of five, that she could keep the cash if no one claimed it within 60 days, Reuters reports. When those two months were up, officials then told her she wouldn’t be getting the money at all, as it allegedly smelled of marijuana and had been seized under state law. As a reward for turning the cash in, police offered her $1,000. Knutson refused and promptly filed suit.

As it turns out, the police changed their minds, and the $12,000 is being returned to Knutson, according to her attorney, Craig Richie. He told Reuters that several members of the community knew Knutson and her husband were facing considerable financial woes, and he believes the money was intended as a gift to her family. Assistant Clay County Attorney Michelle Lawson said the money couldn’t be tied to a criminal investigation, and Knutson will soon receive a check.

“We argued that most money that you carry in your pocket has drug residue on it,” Richie told CBS. “She could’ve kept the money and nobody would’ve known. But she said, ‘No, I’m going to do the right thing.’ So she called police and now integrity has now prevailed.”

Oh she had $$$ to hire an attorney?

This story is so weird

She's probably paying him from the $12,000. Usually 33%. And if she lost she wouldn't have to pay. At least that's how it is here in NY.

Glad she got it back.

Re: Stacy Knutson, a struggling Minnesota waitress and mother of five, says she was searching for a "miracle" to help her family with financial problems. But that "miracle

i'm glad she got it back. if you read the story and don 't read into it, for whatever reason, the money was given to her and then the it got caught up in a lot of legal mumbo jumbo