Hastings woman wanted for abducting child

A nationwide warrant for arrest has been issued for a Hastings woman, Wendi Bartell Dimm, 44. Bartell Dimm was charged last Thursday, June 23, with depriving another of parental or custodial rights, a felony. A court order has been issued to take Bartell Dimm’s 5-year-old son, Timber, into custody.

On June 5, Timber’s father was scheduled to pick up the boy from school, according to the custody agreement with Bartell Dimm, explained Hastings Chief of Police Paul Schnell. The father, who does not live in Minnesota, was supposed to have custody of Timber for the summer.

Neither Timber nor his mother could be located, and a warrant was issued to have the child turned over to his father. Police started investigating the incident as a case of deprivation of parental rights since Bartell Dimm could not be located. Bartell Dimm had been living along Shannon Drive, but the residence had been vacated, Schnell said.

“It was reasonable to believe her intention was to deprive the father of his parental rights,” Schnell said.

No Amber Alert has been issued for Timber Dimm. Amber Alerts are issued only when there is immediate danger to a child, Schnell said.

At this point, there is no evidence to suggest the child’s life is in danger.

Bartell Dimm is described as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes, 5’3” and 145 pounds. Timber Dimm is a white male with light brown hair and brown eyes, standing three feet tall and weighing 40 pounds. Timber also has white and silver caps on his teeth.

Bartell Dimm may have been driving a black or dark colored 1999 Saturn with the Minnesota license plate TRH-057.

“Our first priority and goal is ensuring the safety and well-being of Timber Dimm,” Schnell said. “We hope that getting this information out to the public will help us to more quickly locate Timber and quell the growing concern for his safety,” he added.

In September 2010, Bartell Dimm was reported to be out of compliance with a custody/visitation court order. When she could not be located officers put out a statewide alert. Bartell Dimm and Timber were located in Alexandria by a Douglas County deputy sheriff who had made a routine traffic stop of Bartell Dimm’s vehicle.

Anyone with information should call the Hastings Police Department at 651-480-2300 or call 911.

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