Boater who allegedly rammed Winona Co. patrol boat released

39 year old Mark Pellowski made his first court appearance Tuesday

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — A boater who allegedly rammed a water patrol boat on the Mississippi River and fought with Winona County deputies is free on his own recognizance.

The Post-Bulletin of Rochester reports that 39-year-old Mark Thomas Pellowski made his first court appearance Tuesday on charges that included assault with a dangerous weapon, assaulting a peace officer, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and drunken boating. He’s due back in court Sept. 24.

Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand says deputies in a patrol boat saw two men in a fishing boat with no lights Saturday night. When they attempted to pull up alongside, Pellowski allegedly rammed it. He then allegedly got into a fight with the deputies.

A phone number listed for a Mark Pellowski in Winona rang unanswered Thursday.