Spirit Lake, IA (KICD) — Testimony began Tuesday in the First-Degree Murder trial of Kyle Lou Ricke at the Dickinson County Courthouse in Spirit Lake. After completing jury selection this morning, attorneys for each side made their opening statements before the prosecution called their first witnesses.

The first witness to testify was Assistant Algona Police Chief Mark Bacha. Bacha was the other officer on duty in the early evening hours of September 13th, 2023. Bacha testified that Officer Kevin Cram had signaled he was attempting to serve an active arrest warrant for the defendant.

Bacha testified he became concerned when Officer Cram did not signal dispatch or other officers that the situation had been completed.

The prosecution then called Don Heidner, the dispatcher that was working on the night of September 13th at the Kossuth County Law Enforcement Center. Heidner testified as to the communication with Officer Cram as he was attempting to serve an active arrest warrant on Kyle Lou Ricke.

The state then played the 911 call that Heidner received while on duty that night from the defendant’s mother, Irene Ricke.

Benedict Miller of the Iowa State Patrol was the first person to testify Tuesday afternoon. The prosecution then showed the jury video from Officer Cram’s vehicle and his body camera on the night of September 13th before calling the defendant’s mother and sister to testify. Testimony will resume Wednesday morning and could be wrapped up by the end of the day.

This report on KICD was filed by Brian Wilson of KLGA, Algona.