New judge to be appointed for Melrose man’s murder case

There will be a change of judge in a Trempealeau County murder case.

Sixty-one-year-old Todd Gieck of Melrose had a court hearing on Friday, on a charge of fatally shooting Kyle Dahl last month in Ettrick. According to court records, Judge Rian Radtke has recused himself, because victim Dahl had worked with the county court system.

Gieck faces charges of 1st degree reckless homicide, discharging a firearm near a vehicle, and felony possession of a firearm. He also will need a defense attorney, and one is likely to be appointed from outside the public defender office.

Investigators say Gieck was parked along a road on May 15th, and allegedly fired at Dahl’s car, after becoming upset that Dahl drove too slowly past the scene. Dahl later died of his injuries at a La Crosse hospital.

No date has been set for Gieck’s next hearing, while a new judge has to be assigned.