Man Died Hiding From Cops In Chest Freezer: Police

GILBERT, MN — Police say a Minnesota man died while hiding from police in a chest freezer.

At about 3:30 p.m. on June 26, the Gilbert Police Department responded to a residence in Biwabik on a report of a man's body found in a cold storage appliance located in the basement.

The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as 34-year-old Brandon Lee Buschman of Babbitt, Minnesota. The examiner found no evidence of trauma or injury during the autopsy. A toxicology report was not yet available.

The chest freezer was an older model with a latching mechanism on the outside, according to investigators. When closed, the freezer cannot be pushed open from the inside, police said.

The freezer was not on at the time the body was found, and there have been no utilities connected at the residence since April 2022, authorities said. According to police, the home had not been occupied since February 2023.

Investigators believe Buschman entered the freezer intentionally in order to hide from police because there was an active warrant out for his arrest.

A metal lawn ornament rod was found inserted from inside of the freezer towards the latching mechanize, police said. However, the rod was jammed in a way that kept it from being able to manipulate the latching mechanism from the inside.

Investigators are still working to determine the last time Buschman was seen alive.