A POW/MIA flag flying on a city-owned flagpole in Marine on Saint Croix was stolen in the run up to Memorial Day weekend, leading to a potential misdemeanor theft citation against City Council member John Goodfellow, according to a police report.
The police report explains that there had been an ongoing dispute over the flag and whether to fly it during Memorial Day week. According to the report, Goodfellow admitted to investigators that he took the flag and said he wasn’t stealing it but committing an act of “civil disobedience.”
“we’ve been direct [sic] by counsel to make no comments, sorry,” Goodfellow told Alpha News.
According to the incident report, video footage from May 15 shows an individual exiting from the passenger side of a small white SUV after 9 p.m., removing the flag from the pole and leaving the area.
City Administrator Lynette Peterson told investigators that she believes the mayor, Kevin Nyenhuis, was driving the vehicle. However, Goodfellow said his wife was driving the vehicle, Nyenhuis was not involved, and that he recently loaned the vehicle to the mayor, which would explain why Peterson believed Nyenhuis was driving.
Alpha News contacted Nyenhuis and asked if the “mayor’s office” would like to comment.
“There is no Mayors Office in a town our size we have day jobs,” Nyenhuis responded.
As such, Alpha News clarified that it was simply seeking comment from Nyenhuis on the incident. He had not responded as of publication time.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office made contact with former City Council member Charlie Anderson, who said he spoke to Goodfellow directly about the flag, according to the report.
Goodfellow reportedly told Anderson that he did not like the POW/MIA flag because it “reminded him of the ISIS flag” and that “Kevin was involved,” though Anderson did not know “the extent of Kevin’s involvement,” the report says.
Additionally, Goodfellow allegedly told the detective assigned to the case that “this was not the first time he interfered with city flags.”
“John mentioned a previous incident where he turned the United States flag upside down in a moment of protest. John said the flag flew upside down for a week before anyone noticed,” the report says.
The POW/MIA flag was returned to city officials on May 26 when Goodfellow brought it to city hall, the report explains.
The POW flag serves as a memorial to local Vietnam War veteran Melvin Thomas Krech, according to community members.
“This flag flys in honor of my Uncle Mel who is MIA/KIA April 1, 1966….the pole and flag was erected by the Forest Lake, Chisago City Legions and my dad,” Donna Longtin, Krech’s niece, said in a Facebook post.
Peterson told law enforcement that only public works staff are authorized to raise or lower the flags and that the city of Marine on St. Croix “wishes to pursue charges” against Goodfellow for theft.
Following the investigation, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office submitted the case to prosecutors for review. According to the sheriff’s office report, Goodfellow faces a potential misdemeanor citation for theft.
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.
