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.
Feb. 2
9:59 a.m. Road obstacle. CR 133/CR 75. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a large mudflap with a broken mount bracket from a large truck in the roadway. Bolts were exposed and a hazard to traffic. The officer removed the mudflap from the road and returned it to the police department and placed it into found property.
Feb. 3
3:46 p.m. Medical. CR 75 E. Units were dispatched to a medical at Neighbors Route 75 for a female having a seizure. Officers arrived on scene and gathered basic patient info. Rescue and Mayo ambulance arrived on scene and took over patient care.
Feb. 4
5:43 p.m. Noise complaint. Cypress Drive. An officer was dispatched to a noise complaint at Clover Hill Apartments. Complainant called and reported a vehicle alarm in the parking lot of the apartments had been going off for the last two hours. The officer learned the owner was in unit 11, went and spoke with Jared, and he said he will take care of the issue.
Feb. 5
10:36 a.m. Expired tabs. Second Avenue NW/Minnesota Street. While on routine patrol, an officer was traveling east on Minnesota Street, observed the suspect vehicle traveling west and saw the expired blue 2023 tabs displayed. The officer turned around behind the vehicle, caught up to it, ran the plate and confirmed expired November 2023. Officer stopped the vehicle on Minnesota Street W. and advised of the reason for the stop. Driver said he knew the tabs were expired and just had not got them yet due to money issues. Driver had a vape in his lap. The officer issued a citation for expired registration.
Feb. 7
9:05 a.m. Unwanted person. Second Avenue NW. Officers were flagged down about a suspicious person in the parking lot of Kwik Trip. It was reported a woman was in the parking lot yelling at customers and causing a scene. An officer arrived on scene and located a woman that matched the description. She appeared agitated and was throwing her arms up in the air. The officer stopped and made contact with her. She said she was not yelling at people and that she talks loud and was talking to herself. She said she was living out of her car with her boyfriend and they were going to the Twin Cities to take care of things. She apologized for being loud. She refused all assistance. She then requested to take a photo of the officer by their squad. The officer stood by for a photo and then cleared.
Feb. 8
8:26 a.m. Alarm. Frontage Road. An officer was dispatched to the city of St. Joseph Water Treatment Plant for an alarm. They arrived and were told an employee was on scene and went through the wrong door. Building was secure.
Feb. 9
11:20 a.m. Medical. Elm Street W. An officer was dispatched to a medical at 30 Elm Street E. for a report of a with high blood pressure and high sugars. Mayo and Rescue took over care. Patient transported to St. Cloud Hospital.
Feb. 11
12:47 a.m. Intoxicated driver. Ash Street W./First Avenue NW. An officer observed a vehicle leave the area of downtown St. Joseph. The officer ran the plate of the vehicle and learned it had expired registration from October 2023. They spoke with the driver. While doing so, they observed a Busch light wristband on his wrist and the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle. The officer ran the driver through standardized field sobriety tests until he wanted to stop. The driver was then placed under arrest.
Feb. 13
11:32 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. 10th Avenue SE. SJPD received a call from St. Cloud HRA regarding a suspicious vehicle that did not belong there and looked “sketchy.” An officer checked the area and located the vehicle in the back parking lot. Vehicle is not stolen and no one was inside. Management wanted SJPD aware of it due to potential lease violations associated with the unit they believe the owner is staying at.
Feb. 15
10:15 a.m. Bus stop-arm violations. Baker Street E. Police received a report from Trobec’s Bus Service regarding a stop-arm violation that happened in front of 910 Baker Street E. The complainant (bus driver) stated around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, she stopped at the incident location to drop off one child. Eight-ways were activated and the listed vehicle drove through the stop arm. The complainant got the license plate and the aide at the back of the bus confirmed it. The officer called and spoke to the driver who stated she saw the bus and started slowing down. Driver didn’t know where the bus was going to stop as she has never seen a bus at that time of day. When the bus stopped, the driver hit the brakes. Due to the several inches of fresh snow and bad road conditions, the driver slid through the stop-arm. Story lines up with bus drivers recollection of events. Based on the statements taken and no video, no charges.