If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or access its tip site at tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a crime.
Nov. 9
1:28 a.m. Drugs found. CR 2/CR 75. While another officer was on a traffic stop on CR 2/CR 75, officer who went to back him noticed a plastic bag on the ground behind the squad and picked it up. The bag was heat sealed. Officer brought it back to the police department, opened it. Substance tested positive for marijuana. There were several of these bags. Officer placed the bags and NIK test in evidence. Report to follow.
1:58 p.m. Noise complaint. First Avenue NW. Complainant reported a tenant on First Avenue NW has been playing loud music and bass and said this is an ongoing issue. While in front of the mobile home, on the private roadway, officer could hear loud music and bass coming from inside the residence and attempted to make contact; no one came to the door. Officer attempted to call resident; nobody answered and the number appears to belong to a male. Second attempt. When officer arrived at residence, officer heard music and bass coming from the residence, knocked on the door and nobody answered. Officer again tried calling the phone number and nobody answered. Third attempt. On scene, officer could hear music and bass coming from the residence again. Left warning note saying enforecment action will be taken if the loud noise continues.
Nov. 15
8:39 a.m. Suspicious activity. Northland Drive. Complainant reported someone went through her vehicle and moved things around. Arrived on scene and spoke with complainant. Her front passenger door was open. Nothing taken. She said bank paperwork was on the seat and her credit card was on the seat as well. Officer told her to get a new card in case the number was written down. Complainant said she believes the doors were locked but there was no sign of forced entry. Officer documented incident; told complainant to call back if anything was missing.
Nov. 16
4:48 p.m. Driving complaint. 20th Avenue SE. Complainant called stating a red cab semi entered a roundabout on 28th Avenue S. at a high rate of speed and almost hit her vehicle. The same semi also went through a red light on CR 75 at CR 134. Officer spoke to the semi driver, who said he was aware of the red light because he was not going to be able to stop in time. He said he believed a female called him in because she gave him the middle finger in a roundabout but was not sure why. Officer warned semi driver about the red light and updated the complainant.
Nov. 18
11:14 a.m. Gas leak. Minnesota Street W. Officer dispatched to a gas leak at Local Blend. Dispatch advised a contractor hit a gas line. Officer assisted with evacuating individuals from the immediate area. St. Joseph fire responded and determined it was a slow leak. St. Joseph Fire had two members standby in the area until Xcel Energy arrived to fix the issue. Officer told St. Joseph Fire to contact the police if they needed any more assistance.
11:29 p.m. Abandoned vehicle. Dale Street E. While on patrol, officer observed a vehicle parked in the Klinefelter park parking lot. The vehicle was unoccupied upon arrival.
Dec. 13
9:30 a.m. Welfare check. Third Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to a health call at the residence. Complainant reported his son was out of control and he needed help. Son also called in and said he was trying to leave and his dad would not let him. Arrived on scene and separated parties. Found son had a dog bite. Mayo was called to check him out. He declined transport. Not enough for an evaluation. Parties were separated and son left premises.
Dec. 14
10:44 a.m. Dog complaint. Schneider Drive. It was reported three dogs were running in the park. Officer checked the park with negative contact. Officer called park management and said officer didn’t see the dogs, but complainant could call when the dogs are out and about.
5:24 p.m. Road rage. CR 75/CR 133. Complainant stated while they were northbound on CR 2, a red sedan in front of them was driving 45 mph in a 55 zone. Once they got to St. Joseph, they got ahead of the sedan who then got behind them and flashed their brights and gave them the middle finger. The complainant turned into McDonald’s and the sedan continued. The complainant described the driver as 40s, white male. Officer contacted the sedan driver who stated on County Road 2 there was a lot of slow-moving traffic. Sedan driver said the complainant’s van pulled up behind him and tailgated from Cold Spring to St. Joseph. He also said he could barely see and that once in St. Joseph, the van sped past him, and three younger girls gave him the middle finger. Sedan driver said he did flash his brights once. No crime.
Dec. 16
7:09 p.m. Suspicious activity. Minnesota Street E. Officer was dispatched for suspicious activity at Bello Cucina. Wait staff stated three females came into the restaurant who appeared to be under 21 and possibly had fake IDs. She stated the females then went to Bo Diddley’s. Officer went to Bo Diddley’s and asked the staff if anyone came in matching the description of the young females. The staff mentioned the original complainant already called them informing them of what happened. Staff stated nobody came in matching the description. Officer went back to Bello Cucina. Wait staff stated she did not feel comfortable serving the females alcohol and mentioned the females were being rude to staff after they refused to serve them.
Dec. 18
1:21 p.m. Hit-and-run vehicle. College Avenue S. Officer received a call from a mother who told police her daughter’s vehicle was hit in a parking lot at the College of St. Benedict. The mother said the striking vehicle driver made contact but later quit communicating. Officer contacted the suspected driver, who stated she gave information but nobody replied. She then gave the officer her State Farm agent’s name and number which police relayed to the mother. The accident was on private property, so no state accident report was completed.
Dec. 27
12:51 a.m. Vehicle in ditch. Fourth Avenue NE/CR 75. Officer was dispatched for a vehicle in the ditch on CR 75 and Northland Drive. The officer responded and observed a vehicle in the north ditch of CR 75. The driver stated he was driving on Northland Drive and thought that there was an on-ramp to get onto CR 75. Driver was able to get the vehicle out of the ditch by himself.
Dec. 29
4:40 p.m. Hit-and-run vehicle. Minnesota Street W. Police were notified of a hit-and-run that occurred at 4:40 p.m. near 19 Minnesota Street W. Officer called the complainant who said she was parked out front of the Local Blend. She said when she was in the Local Blend, a male driving a white compact car backed into hers. Complainant said she went outside to try and gather insurance information from the individual, but he had already left. Complainant did not get the license plate of the vehicle that hit her Pontiac. She said her car did not have any damage, but the other car appeared to have a cracked rear bumper.
