Police:

Man died of

heart attack

Foul play ruled

out in death of

Charles Scharf

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The death of Charles F. Scharf, 47, of New Ulm, was due to a heart attack Friday night, said New Ulm police Sunday.

Officers were waiting on the results of an autopsy that was performed in Ramsey County earlier Sunday.

Police said they got a phone call from a friend of Scharf's who had stopped by Scharf's house at 1019 N. Minnesota St. late Friday night. That friend is said to have found Scharf lying in a hot tub just before calling police at 11:38 p.m.

Police Chief Erv Weinkauf said police were initially suspicious of some bruises they found around Scharf's neck.

He said officers cordoned off the house and the surrounding yard with yellow police line tape until they were able to rule out foul play early Sunday afternoon.

"Apparently, it was caused by something medical," Weinkauf said. "We didn't know if it was a crime scene or not, so we went ahead with (the investigation) until the autopsy ruled out foul play."

Funeral arrangements for Scharf are pending with Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm.