Responding to a call of an alleged assault, Cook County sheriff deputies were dispatched to the Lutsen area on Thursday, August 15, and after an initial investigation, they arrested Mark Thomas Pavelich, 61, for repeatedly beating his neighbor with a metal pole.
The man who was assaulted, a 63-year-old neighbor who lives two houses away on Deer Yard Lane, Lutsen, had just come off the lake after fishing with Mark when he was attacked. He said when he was getting his belongings out of the truck Mark used a metal pole to hit him on his back, arm, and legs.
The victim was taken to the North Shore Health Hospital where he was found to have two cracked ribs, a bruised left kidney, a fractured vertebra, as well as bruises and marks on his arms and legs. He also may have suffered some internal bleeding.
According to the victim, he told authorities that Mark had accused him of spiking his beer when they were back from fishing.
Mark was arraigned in District Court in Grand Marais on Monday, August 19.
During his court appearance Mark was charged with four felony counts, second- and third-degree assault, for allegedly striking his neighbor with a metal pole. Additionally, he was also charged with having an illegally shortened shotgun whose serial numbers had been filed off.
According to the criminal complaint the shotgun, which was found when authorities searched Mark’s house, had the buttstock removed and replaced and was shorter than the legally required 26 inches.
In Mark’s initial court appearance, Judge Michael Cuzzo ordered Pavelich to undergo a mental health evaluation, citing, “There is reason to doubt competency.” Pavelich’s mental health exam results must be returned to the court within 60 days in advance of a competency hearing.
During the mid-1970s, Mark was a star high school hockey player for the Eveleth Golden Bears. He went to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) where he became an All America hockey player. He played three years at UMD before joining the national team, which led to his selection to the 1980 Olympic team.
During the 1980 Olympics, the U.S. national team upset the mighty Soviet Union in a game referred to as “Miracle on Ice.” Following that upset, the U.S.A. team went on to beat Finland to claim the Olympic gold medal.
Following the Olympics, Herb Brooks, the Olympic hockey coach who was hired to coach the New York Rangers, asked the Rangers to sign Pavelich, who went undrafted, to a contract.
Mark played 355 regular season games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks from 1981 to 1992. Mark played either forward or center, and was known as a dynamic skater and skilled playmaker.
During his time as a professional hockey player, Pavelich played one year in Switzerland (1980-81), one year in Britain (1986-78) two years in Italy (1987-88; 1988- 89).
While many of his 1980 Olympic teammates capitalized on their fame, Mark instead led a quiet life. He has spent much of his time fishing and hunting and taking care of his investments in property.
In 2012, Mark lost his wife Kara, who died after falling off the couple’s second-story deck.
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