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.
March 15
8:17 a.m. Accident. Elena Lane and Fourth Avenue SE. Driver called the police department to report a crash. Driver had struck a parked car on Elena Lane. An officer arrived on the scene and met with driver who said she did not scrape her windshield and could not see. She said she was pulling over to scrape the windshield and struck a parked car. The owner of parked car was notified. Driver was issued a citation for obstructed windshield with frost.
March 16
10:20 p.m. DUI. Minnesota Street W and Sixth Avenue NW. An officer was driving eastbound on Minnesota Street W. when they noticed a vehicle traveling westbound on Minnesota Street with a headlight out. Officer turned the squad car around, activated the emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop. When the officer approached the vehicle, they immediately smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage and the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and watery. The officer later asked driver if he had anything to drink and he said, “one.” The officer ran an eye test which the driver did not pass. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Joseph police station.
March 17
7:05 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. 20th Avenue SE. Officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle. The complainant reported a Hispanic man n a white Mercedes in the carwash line who appeared to be smoking something out of a glass pipe. Officers arrived and waited for the vehicle to leave the carwash. A sheriff’s deputy assisted with making a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. While speaking with the driver, it was determined the complainant saw the driver’s vape which has a clear piece on it. No signs of impairment. Complainant was updated with results.
11:50 p.m. Public urination. Minnesota Street W. While sitting in the church parking lot, an officer observed three white men walking westbound on the north sidewalk of Minnesota Street W. The men stopped on the west side of 25 Minnesota Street W. The officer observed one man step next to the building and turn away from the officer. Another man then appeared to stand next to the first man. The officer used their binoculars and observed urinate then zip up his pants and continue walking westbound. They approached the suspect at Sal’s bar and escorted him to their squad car. The officer told the man they would be issuing him a citation for public urination. Due to the man being 22 years old, walking and talking normal, he was released at the scene with a citation after explaining it.
March 20
1:11 a.m. Public urination. College Avenue N and Minnesota Street. While on patrol, an officer observed a man urinating on the SW corner of the four-way stop at the intersection of College Avenue and Minnesota Street. Officers stopped and made contact with the man who was cooperative and admitted he was urinating in public. Officer issued a citation for public urination and explained it.
March 21
11:29 p.m. Traffic stop/marijuana citation. CR 75 and 20th Avenue SE. While on patrol, an officer observed a vehicle traveling east bound on CR 75 near 20th Avenue SE, with a burnt-out headlight. The officer turned east onto CR 75 from 20th Avenue SE 75, and activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. The officer approached the vehicle and explained the reason for the stop was because driver had a headlight out. When the driver rolled the passenger window down, the officer was able to smell the odor of marijuana. They went back to their patrol vehicle and asked for a second officer to search the vehicle. The driver stated there was marijuana in the driver’s door, so the officer had him step out of the vehicle. The officer was unable to locate marijuana in the door, and he said it was in a backpack in the back seat. In the backpack the officer located a clear bong with burnt marijuana residue in it. There was also a clear glass pipe with burnt marijuana residue, a dark gray grinder with a small amount of marijuana, and approximately 9.9 grams of marijuana in packaging. The officer issued and explained the citation for drug paraphernalia and small amount of marijuana. The driver was released.
March 24
8:32 p.m. CR 133 and 320th Street. An officer was asked to assist with a deer versus car crash. Driver said she was traveling southbound on CR 133 near 320th Street when a deer crossed 133 from west to east and struck her vehicle. A towing service was called, and the officer collected driver and vehicle information along with photographs. Crash report to follow.