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.
April 24
11:15 a.m. Ordinance violation. Cypress Drive. Officer was asked to do a garbage notice on Cypress Drive and observed there to be a single can sitting out at the end of the driveway. Officer knocked on the door and no answer. A warning tag was left on the door for an ordinance violation.
3:18 p.m. Text scam. Iris Lane E. Complainant came into St. Joseph police to report a fraud. She stated she got a text from Amazon saying there is a $2,500 to their account. She called the phone number from the text and spoke with someone she thought was a costumer service agent. She gave the man the last four digits of her credit card and her email. The man asked her to go to Target and buy gift cards and send it to them, with the promise of a refund. Complainant found this to be strange. She didn’t send money due to her feeling it was a scam. She wanted the incident reported. Officer told her to have her laptop cleaned by a professional just in case they got into her email, and told her to call if anything else happens.
April 26
5:27 p.m. Two-car crash. CR 75/Fist Avenue NW. Officers were dispatched to a crash. They arrived on scene and spoke with both parties involved. It was learned vehicle #1 was rear ended by vehicle #2. Officers gathered driver and insurance info and took photos. See crash report for further.
April 29
4:32 a.m. Road obstruction. College Avenue S./Field Street E. Officer was on routine patrol when they observed a light pole knocked over and in the roadway. They called on-call city maintenance and advised them about the light pole. There were wires that stretched from the base and pulled along with the pole, misc. parts were in the middle turn lane, and the other light poles were still working. Officer looked around and found a couple fresh tire imprints in the grass next to the base and on the other side of the sidewalk that align with the other imprint. Officer took photos of the damages and the imprints, and was able to determine the vehicle that struck the light pole came out of the cemetery, due to the angle of the imprints and how the light pole fell. Officer then walked through the cemetery to check for any other damages and if anything was left behind from the vehicle, but did not find anything. City maintenance arrived on scene, took care of the wires for the weekend and removed the pole off the street. No suspect info at this time. Minnesota crash report to be completed.
April 30
1:31 a.m. Intoxicated person. College of St. Benedict. Units were dispatched to an intoxicated person at St. Ben’s. Staff had called in and reported a possibly intoxicated driver. Officer arrived on scene and they said they no longer needed assistance and told the officer they could clear.
May 2
11:35 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. CR 134/CR 75. Officer observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road. Keys on the front seat. Officer was approached by the owner stating they were doing ditch clean ups. He asked if he was far enough off he road; officer told him he was.
May 3
6:31 p.m. Found dog. College of St. Benedict. Officer was dispatched to a found dog at St. Ben’s. They learned the dog belong to a home on Coleman Court. Upon arrival, the officer met with the owner who was bleeding and having a medical issue. Officer called ambulance and separate call was created. Dog was returned.
May 4
10:39 p.m. Speeding. College Avenue S./Field Street E. Officer was northbound on College Avenue S. when they observed a vehicle traveling southbound at what appeared a higher rate of speed than the posted speed limit of 30 mph. Officer turned on the radar, got a reading of 48 mph, heard a clear, single, audible tone, and noticed the vehicle had no tail lights. Officer spoke with the driver who stated she did not know the speed limit, how fast she was going and did not realize she did not have her headlights on. Driver stated she had been working all day and just wanted to get home. Officer issued a citation for speeding 48 mph in a 30-mph zone, explained it to her and she had no questions. Officer also gave her a warning for the no headlights on. The radar was tested at the beginning of shift and found it to be working properly.
May 6
11:16 p.m. Disorderly conduct. College Avenue S. Officers were dispatched to a disorderly for two men who were fighting on campus and one tried running from security. While on scene, the officer spoke with one of the men who was bleeding slightly from the back of his head. Officer could tell he was intoxicated from the odor of an alcoholic beverage, slurred speech, balance and demeanor. CSB Security gave the officer one of the man’s IDs which was a fake. Man also had another fake ID in his wallet, which the officer took. The man’s real ID showed he was underage. Officer requested man to provide a breathalyzer sample which he did, and then took a manual capture and displayed a BAC level of .252. Man was issued a citation for minor consumption and possession of a fake ID. He was then transported to the hospital due to his head injury, and then was given the citation and real MN DL back to him before he left.
May 10
1:26 a.m. Noise complaint. 17th Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to a beeping noise that was found coming from a dumpster in the driveway. The officer climbed up and saw a smoke detector going off, so they pulled the battery out and it stopped.
May 12
8:44 a.m. Ordinance violation. Minnesota Street W. While on patrol, officer observed a house in the city of St. Joseph to be in violation of city ordinance. There were two leather indoor couches in the backyard, as well as cups, cans and extra debris from a party that occurred previously. The officer knocked numerous times with no answer, despite cars in the driveway, so they placed a red tag warning on the door advising tenants of the violation. Will follow up if not cleaned by the end of the day.
May 13
11:20 a.m. No pay. College Avenue N. Officer was dispatched to a no pay at Holiday gas station. The officer spoke on the phone with the suspect, who he said he believed he had paid for it but is willing to come in and pay. He stated it will take him a couple of hours to come back and pay. Officer told him it was OK as long as it was paid by the end of the day, and then told employees to call dispatch after the person paid. The officer was then informed by dispatch that the person came back and paid.
May 15
2:56 p.m. Driving complaint. Birch Street W. Dispatch informed St. Joseph police a driving complaint was coming into St. Joseph from I-94. The officer made contact with the driver who stated he was working, was on his way home and was tired. He stated he was going home to sleep. Officer told him to take a nap if needed before going home. No suspicious behavior observed.
May 16
6:09 p.m. Unlocked gate. Elm Street E. While on patrol, an officer observed the gate next to public works open. They checked the doors and the outbuildings, and everything was up to snuff. The officer then closed the gate.
May 17
10:34 a.m. Medical. Serenity on 7th. Officer was dispatched to a medical for a man who fell and hit his head. The officer arrived a short time later and staff was tending to patient, and was advised that the man fell, hit his head near a window ledge and was now confused. Patient’s pulse was OK. St. Joseph Fire Department arrived and took over patient care. Mayo arrived on scene and loaded the man onto cot and transported to hospital.
May 19
5:03 p.m. Road rage crash. CR 75/20th Avenue SE. An officer observed two vehicles pulled over near the intersection. Both drivers were speaking to each other. They told the officer they each were “roadraging” and that’s what caused the crash. Both parties admitted to both brake checking and tailgating. Both parties were issued a citation. Officer took photographs, collected driver, vehicle and insurance info. A crash report will be created and driver exchange provided.
May 20
7:29 p.m. Suspicious activity. Klinefelter Park, 1000 Dale St. E. An officer was dispatched to a suspicious activity in Klinefelter Park. They said a man had walked out of the bathroom and when the caller went in there was a needle on the ground. Another caller reported the same man laying on the ground near Dale and 12th Avenue. Officer located man. The man denied shooting up in the park and said there’s all kinds of drug users around and claimed he was sober. The officer had no proof of any criminal activity, so the man was released. Officer went back to Klinefelter and picked up a needle in the man’s bathroom. It will be placed into evidence to destroy.
May 21
5:35 a.m. Speeding. CR 2. On this date, an officer was on patrol driving northbound on County Road 2 and observed a lone sedan driving southbound at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The speed limit on CR 2 is 55 mph. The sedan passed the officer and they activated their stalker radar which was tested prior to shift and found to be working properly. As the sedan went by the officer, they observed it to be a Toyota Prius. The rear radar emitted a clear, audible, single tone with a reading of 66 mph. The Prius was going under I-94 at that time. By the time the Prius reached CR 51, the radar had a reading of 70 mph. The officer locked it in, turned around and conducted a traffic stop on the Prius. The driver said he was going faster than he should because he was late to work when the officer asked him how fast he was going. Issued a citation for speed and explained the citation.
May 23
5:46 p.m. Civil dispute. First Avenue NW. Officer was dispatched to a civil. The complainant stated he has gotten tickets regarding his vehicle being a “junk vehicle.” He stated he sold his vehicle, but the person who bought it apparently hasn’t transferred the title. Complainant stated he wanted to pick up the vehicle since he still owns it. The officer advised the vehicle may have been towed, and asked dispatch to check the tow log. They stated there is no record of it being towed. The officer advised complainant that it is a civil matter and he could civil sue the other person. Complainant stated he understood and he would continue to look for the vehicle.
May 24
7:09 a.m. School patrol. Jade Road. Morning school patrol at Kennedy for student and staff arrival. Stood in entryway observing student traffic while entering school. Walked halls, checked doors, all appeared to be OK.
May 27
2:07 a.m. Suspicious activity. 21st Avenue NE. Officer was on routine patrol and observed an occupied vehicle in the parking lot. Officers spoke with occupant who stated he was picking up his wife because she was just putting a bus away away after doing a wedding shuttle. The wife came out of Trobec’s and stated she was doing a wedding shuttle and that she and her husband both work there. They showed their work IDs to prove they work there.
3:02 a.m. Dispute. Rodeway Inn, Minnesota Street E. St. Joseph units were dispatched to a complainant who stated a man was threatening to beat up and kill the comp because he was missing his wallet. St. Joseph units along with Stearns County arrived on scene. Officers spoke with the suspect who stated he lost his wallet and was walking the hallways looking for it. The suspect stated he spoke with the complainant and advised the complainant he lost his wallet, but did not threaten the complainant at all. The suspect’s wallet was right outside his door, the suspect was sweating, intoxicated and not wearing a shirt. The suspect stated he had approximately six beers. The complainant, the owner of the Rodeway Inn, stated he just wanted the suspect to go to bed so he would not wake anyone up. The suspect stated he wanted to go to bed. Due to the complainant just wanting the suspect to be quiet, officers advised the suspect to go to bed and he understood. Officers advised the complainant if he had any other problems to call back.
May 31
1:11 a.m. Welfare check. Second Avenue NW. There was a pregnant woman crying at the Kwik Trip, who stated she did not know where she was and her boyfriend kicked her out of the vehicle and took her phone. A male driving the vehicle came back around and asked the woman to get in the car. She did willingly and left the scene. Concerned for her welfare, an officer requested St. Cloud to check address on vehicle registration. Waite Park police checked the known address but did not locate vehicle or persons.