Police Close Investigation Into Priest Who Accepted Large Check From Man

The Maplewood Police Department has closed an investigation into a priest who received a $120,000 check from a 99-year-old man, according to a story by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).

Lou Dziengel wrote the check to Rev. Rodger Bauman, priest of Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Oakdale. Dziengel was in an assisted-living facility at the time. 

Paul Engh, Bauman's attorney, told MPR that Dziengel was a parishioner when Bauman was pastor of St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake.

Bauman later repaid Dziengel in full, after an employee of the assisted-living facility notified police. No charges were filed in the case.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis spokesman Jim Accurso told MPR "the church did not remove Bauman because police never determined he had exploited Dziengel."

Read the complete story at minnesota.publicradio.org. >>