If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301 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.
March 24
7:12 p.m. Property damage. Callaway Street E. An officer was contacted by an off-duty officer regarding a property damage complaint that occurred at St. Joseph Government Center. The officer was told the complainant drove to the Government Center and parked in front of the building at approximately 2:22 p.m. The complainant left at approximately 2:35 p.m. and went home. After getting home, the complainant noticed the passenger door of his vehicle appeared to have been door dinged. Officer went to the complainant’s home and observed the damage. There appeared to be red paint transfer on his grey vehicle. There appeared to be two separate spots where there was damage which also included a dent in the metal. The officer reviewed video footage from the Government Center and observed the complainant arrive at 2:22 p.m. and park with no other vehicles on either side. At approximately 2:30 p.m., a red vehicle arrived and parked on the passenger side of the complainant’s vehicle. The driver got out and went inside. The complainant left at 2:35 p.m. and the other driver left at 2:50 p.m. The officer met with the other driver at his house. He stated he was at the Government Center to meet with an officer. The driver stated his vehicle door never hit the other vehicle otherwise he would have left a note and insurance info. The driver was adamant he did not do it and he hates when people door ding other cars. I showed the driver the video and he stated the video does not show any door ding and stated it must have happened somewhere else. The driver allowed the officer to inspect his driver door, and did notice paint chips on the door edge, approximately at the height of the door handle, similar to the location of the damage on the complainant’s car. The driver stated he has owned the vehicle for six years and paint chips could come from anywhere. At this point, no other camera footage is available showing a different angle. An estimate from the body shop is $1,726.46.
March 25
4:59 a.m. Alarm. 1300 Jade Road. An officer was dispatched to Kennedy Elementary School for an alarm at door 13. Officer found the door to be a garage door, checked doors 1-13, observed a vehicle in the parking lot after they showed up and learned it was staff who just got there and his shift started at 5:30 a.m. The keyholder arrived on scene. He stated the door has been giving him grief but this was his first call on it. The officer advised keyholder the doors they checked were secure and observed nothing suspicious. Keyholder said the officer was good to clear and he did not need anything from them.
March 27
10:35 p.m. Noise complaint. First Avenue NW. The complainant called stating there was a group of people, possibly intoxicated, being very loud and banging on a fence and dumpster. The officer checked the area and could not hear anything and did not see anyone in the area. They did observe a group of college-aged people walking into a house nearby but they were not loud.
March 28
12:39 p.m. Intoxicated driver. Minnesota Street W. The complainant stated his coworker was at The Middy for his lunch break and was drinking. Complainant said coworker had left 15 minutes before he called police. Complainant said coworker was most likely headed to Manion’s Wholesale, and was driving a blue, extended cab pickup, unknown what make or model. The officer drove out to Manion’s and observed an older blue ford pickup. The truck registered to the coworker. The owner has the same address as coworker. The vehicle was unoccupied when the officer arrived on scene, and no one was around the vehicle.
March 29
5:12 p.m. Verbal dispute. Second Avenue NW. Staff reported a possible verbal dispute in the parking lot of Kwik Trip. A man and a woman were heard yelling. The two individuals had left before the officer arrived on scene, and it did not appear any crime was committed.
March 30
1:23 a.m. Unwanted person. College Avenue S. Officers arrived on scene at St. Ben’s and security advised the situation had resolved itself and they no longer needed assistance. No one was identified.
April 1
9:11 p.m. Stalled vehicle. CR 2/CR 75. While on routine patrol, an officer located a vehicle stalled in the turn lane of CR 2 to go southbound on CR 75 eastbound. An officer made contact with the driver who advised she was having mechanical issues. The driver advised if she waited for a few minutes the vehicle would start and she could then drive a short distance. The driver stated her dad was coming from Apple Valley to help her. The officer asked the driver to try and get the vehicle out of the turn lane. The driver was ultimately able to limp the vehicle into the Kwik Trip west parking lot.
April 2
2:13 p.m. One-vehicle crash. CR 133/Westwood Parkway. While on patrol, an officer observed a vehicle driving out of the edge of the ditch. The officer made contact with the driver who said he was forced to slam on his brakes not to rear end a semi truck. He then slid into the edge of the ditch were his rear passenger side and bumper were damaged by a pole. There was no damage to the pole. Pictures were taken. Due to it being a single-vehicle crash with no property damage there will be no state accident report.
April 4
12:48 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Graceview Loop/Graceview Drive. The complainant reported an unmarked white van with Iowa plates was in the neighborhood with several people inside. The van was said to be stopping outside random homes with the men getting out consistently. The officers know this van to have valid peddlers permits for selling Kirby products, and did see the van leaving the area with Kirby products inside. The officer informed the complainant of this information.
April 5
1:03 a.m. Minnesota Street W./Second Avenue NW. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a man at a house pulled on the door and appeared intoxicated. Spoke with man who said he thought the door might have been open. Man then said he was going to take the bus back to St. John’s. Man was walking and talking.
April 6
3:24 p.m. Alarm. 15th Avenue NE. Officers were dispatched to an alarm at Fabral. The alarm was audible and tripped by door 5. An officer arrived and no unusual vehicles were seen. Officer checked the building and everything was secure. No keyholders reached.
