If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 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.
March 13
11:46 a.m. Found property. 12th Avenue S. An officer was requested to stop by an apartment for found property. An officer stopped and spoke to a man who was cleaning an apartment out for a family member. He had come across a small baggie of marijuana and wanted to turn it over to the officer. He also asked the officer where he could drop medications off at. The officer took both the marijuana and the medications. The medications were placed in the medication drop box in the police department lobby and the marijuana was destroyed.
March 14
2:44 a.m. Suspicious activity. Pheasant Crest Loop. An officer was dispatched to the area as a complainant stated she heard people knocking on her door. She also stated there was a vehicle in front of her house with the rear hatch open. The officer arrived in the area and did not see anyone around. The officer located the mentioned vehicle that was parked in the community parking area with the rear hatch open. The vehicle was cold, and no one was around. The officer closed the hatch and the vehicle appeared to not be related. A short time later, the caller called back because she heard more knocking. Since the last time the officer was there it had started snowing, the officer did not find any fresh tracks in the snow. The officer assured the complainant everything was OK and there were no tracks in the snow.
March 15
7:14 a.m. Suspicious activity. Riverside Avenue. Officers were dispatched to a vehicle theft in progress at a park. The caller was an off-duty officer from a nearby town, she reported as she drove by, she saw a woman standing outside of a blue SUV waving her arms and screaming for help. The victim reported to the off-duty officer that the man in her vehicle was trying to steal it. The male then got out of the vehicle and started walking away. The off-duty officer told the woman to go to the Holiday Gas station and to wait for Sartell officers. The off-duty officer was able to follow the man who was on foot, until Sartell officers were able to locate him. The man was detained and placed in the rear of the squad until the victim could be spoken to. The man told the officer he was just walking to his mom’s house in Sauk Rapids. Another Sartell officer responded to the gas station, but the victim and vehicle described were not there. The man was identified by officers, while in the rear of the squad. The victim was not able to be located, and no further information was able to be given on what had happened at the park. The man was released until more information could be found. It should be noted this man was arrested later in the day for different charges and booked into the Stearns County Jail.
March 16
5:22 a.m. Dog. Fifth Avenue N. An officer was requested for a St. Bernard dog running loose and getting into people’s garbage in the area. The officer was aware of the dog and the dog owners from previous calls. The officer saw the dog loose in its own yard but unattended. While the officer was searching for a phone number for the owner, a woman came out of the house and to the squad car. The officer told her about the complaint, and she told the officer the dog must have pushed the storm door open. The officer told the woman to secure the door and dog better as this isn’t the first complaint.
March 17
9:41 p.m. Intoxicated person. Second Street S. An officer was requested to respond for an intoxicated person who was trying to buy alcohol. The business refused service to the man and was concerned he may have driven there. When the officer arrived, they spoke to the employee and they informed the officer they refused to sell to him, due to his intoxication level already. The officer spoke to the man who he admitted to drinking and having no one at home to help care for him. The man was willing to give a preliminary breath test; the results were higher than being able to care for himself. The officer called and was able to secure a bed at detox; the man willingly signed himself in for the night.
March 18
7:41 p.m. Panic alarm. Bellin Drive. Officers were dispatched to a commercial panic alarm and the alarm was tripped in the deposit location. Officers responded and checked the building. The building was secure with no signs of attempted entry.
March 19
5:10 p.m. Car fire. Victory Avenue. Sartell Fire and Sartell Police Department were dispatched for a car fire in front of an apartment building. The officer assisted the fire department by unlocking the car door so the hood on the car could be popped open. Once the hood was opened, the fire department applied water and extinguished the fire. The owner of the car came out a short time later and stated he had arrived home about a half hour ago. It is unknown what started the fire.
March 20
12:19 a.m. Citizen contact. First Street NE. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a woman carrying a pink-colored stick. It appeared she was trying to flag the officer down. The officer stopped and spoke to her briefly. The woman asked to use a phone to call for a ride and the officer offered her use of his police- department-issued phone. The woman refused to identify herself and then said she didn’t want to use the phone. The officer asked if she needed any further assistance and she said she did not and started walking away from the officer.
March 21
6:48 p.m. Suspicious vehicles. Sartell Street. While an officer was on routine patrol, he observed two vehicles parked back by the hydro-electric dam. This is private property and there have been reports of graffiti recently. The officer located two separate groups of people fishing and advised them they were on private property. Both groups left without issue.
March 22
12:45 p.m. Fraud. 11th Avenue E. An officer was requested to call the complainant about fraud that had occurred. The officer was informed a male party had been on an adult website and had sent nude photos of himself to what he thought was a female friend. The other party then started demanding money from the man or threatened they would release the photos of him. The man first sent $100 but the harassment continued. The man sent another $1,000 gift card from Walmart. The officer advised the man to stop corresponding with the people, and to delete the email address they had for him. The officer did some research, the address used came back to a vacant foreclosed home in Minneapolis. The officer told the man they would not be able to get his money back but to call if they contacted him again.
March 23
2:15 p.m. Crash. Connecticut Avenue S. An officer was requested for an accident that occurred in the parking lot. Dispatch advised the officer no injuries were mentioned. The officer arrived on scene and completed the accident exchange forms and took pictures. The officer noted minor damage, and both vehicles were drivable.
March 24
4:15 p.m. Theft from vehicle. Perimeter Drive. An officer was requested to respond to the residence for a theft that occurred sometime within the last week. The officer was informed by the owner that he had last driven his truck last week and just noticed today that the front license plate was missing. The owner did not think it had fallen off in a car wash as the screws were also missing, the owner believed it occurred while parked in his driveway. The owner informed the officer he planned to go to the DMV this week to get both plates replaced. The officer had the one plate entered by dispatch as stolen.
March 25
4:19 p.m. Road rage. CR 120. Dispatch contacted officers about a current road rage incident occurring. The complainant stated a vehicle in front of them swerved to miss debris in the road from the wind, they didn’t have time to swerve and hit it causing it to fly up and hit the vehicle behind them. The complainant stated that the vehicle has been following them ever since; at a red light the driver got out and tried confronting them. The complainant told dispatch they would head toward the police department since the vehicle was still following. While officers were enroute to the police department, dispatch said the complainant was in the lobby and could hear the other male party; it was becoming verbal. A Stearns County deputy was near the police department and was able to respond. The deputy mediated the situation and took care of the call.
March 26
11:05 p.m. Assist agency. Pinecone Road N. While on routine patrol, a Sartell officer heard a Waite Park officer inform dispatch they were responding to Sartell to attempt contact with an assault suspect from their city. The Sartell officer responded to assist the Waite Park officer with making entry into the apartment building. Both officers contacted the female suspect; the suspect was taken into custody by Waite Park Police.
March 27
1:30 p.m. Burning. Balsam Court. An officer was requested by a man who requested to be anonymous about a neighbor burning leaves in their backyard. Upon the officer’s arrival, it was found the homeowner was using a wood stove in the backyard to make maple syrup.
March 28
8:50 a.m. Stolen vehicle. Pinecone Road S. An officer was dispatched to a vehicle that was located abandoned in a gravel pit. The employee of the gravel pit told dispatch they located it and the truck had a company logo on it from St. Joseph. Upon the officer’s arrival, an employee from the business was on scene with the complainant. The employee told the officer the vehicle had been taken some time during the last two days. The vehicle did not have keys inside and no damage was visible to the steering column. There was a tow strap underneath the truck, and it was hooked up to the exhaust system. The suspects managed to remove one of the catalytic converters but struggled removing the others. Shoe prints were photographed, and a lighter was collected from the scene. The vehicle that had been stolen was swabbed for DNA. Hi Vis fibers were found under the vehicle and on the vehicle, leading the officer to believe the suspect had Hi Vis clothing on. It also appeared a second vehicle showed up on scene to try and pull the other catalytic converters off but failed; tire tracks were photographed. Vehicle was turned back over to the employee.
