Ladysmith City Administrator Alan Christianson was arrested this week in connection with allegations he participating in eavesdropping on a Rusk County Board of Supervisors closed meeting.
The arrest was detailed in a story that appeared in the Sept. 25, 2025 issue of The Ladysmith News. According to the story:
The 37-year-old city administrator was arrested at his home on Sept. 22 for intercepting wire/electric communication as party to a crime. He was arrested one week after his sister, 34-year-old Stephanie Christianson, was charged with intercepting wire/electric communication in connection with the Aug. 26 incident.
The two are children of former city administrator and current alderman Al Christianson.
When asked about the charges, Rusk County Sheriff Phil Grassmann said, “This is due to their involvement in attempting to record a county board closed session on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.”
Grassmann said they would be charged regardless of political office. “If you commit or attempt to commit a crime in Rusk County, you will be investigated and arrested if there is probable cause that such a crime was committed,” Grassmann said.
Ladysmith Mayor Bob Grotzinger said he was “surprised” by the arrest of the city administrator, who is the city’s top administrative employee.
Grassmann declined further comment except to say the investigation is ongoing.
