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.
Aug. 24
5:06 p.m. Animal neglect. 17th Avenue SE. Units were dispatched to an animal neglect, arrived on scene and spoke with the brother. It was his dog, the dog had shelter and water on the deck. It is outside during the day and inside at night. No concerns from officers.
Aug. 25
5:16 p.m. Vandalism. Fir Street E./21st Avenue NE. Officer was dispatched to a vandalism to vehicle. The complainant stated he was working at the new gymnastics building putting up HVAC. He stated he had a few verbal altercations with the foreman of the plumbing company next door. When complainant got home, he noticed purple primer on his vehicle hood that is typically used by plumbing companies. Photos were taken. Officer followed up on Sept. 1. Complainant said the primer was cleaned off and appeared to have left no damage but requested the officer speak to the other company. The owner of the plumbing company stated he was the foreman on the job and said the complainant was also causing issues. The owner also said the issues complainant was mad about were common issues in the field. Owner said they didn’t use purple primer on the job site and was willing to meet officer at the job site to prove it. Owner said he was upset this couldn’t be handled through the companies. It should be noted that there are no witnesses, footage or photos of the incident. The officer called complainant to explained the findings and said police cannot pursue with any criminal charges at this time.
Aug. 26
11:21 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. 91st Avenue. Officer observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road with two occupants. Officer spoke with people in vehicle. They were celebrating there 34th wedding anniversary watching the stars and comets on an app. Nothing further.
Aug. 27
8:50 p.m. Verbal/physical fight. College Avenue S. Officer dispatched to a verbal between roommates. Each said individually the argument started over a girl. At this point complainant told roommate he wanted to get his wallet and leave. Roommate then told complainant to leave without his wallet. Both individually said there was a mutual fight between the two. Complainant said roommate broke the toilet and sink in the bathroom. There was 3/4 of an inch of water in the kitchen and all of the carpet was soaked. Roommate said he would fix the problems later. In speaking with both parties, it was determined roommate would stay with other friends. Everyone involved did not want to press charges, complainant just wanted this incident documented. Officers advised it would be a civil issue for the damages and because they both reside there. Officer suggested both talk about the issue when they were sober and if police were called back someone would be going to jail.
Aug. 28
12:01 p.m. Fraud. Seventh Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to a fraud complaint at Serenity on 7th. Staff said they received a package from Walmart addressed to a resident who died January 2023. Inside was household items: tide pods, denture cream, graham crackers and more. Staff called Walmart who said the name on the card was the deceased person and the order was placed by their friend. The deceased party had no family and their emergency contact was a friend. The officer contacted deceased’s friend who said she got rid of everything except the deceased’s death certificate when she passed. She said she has not made any purchases. She was advised by police to contact the bank and have accounts closed. Staff at Serenity will contact Walmart fraud and have the card number put on a do-not-purchase list. Items will be returned and credited back to the account.
Aug. 29
2:37 p.m. Noise complaint. College Avenue S. Officer was dispatched to a noise complaint of a loud ATV riding around in the grassy area behind Wood Creek Apartments. Arrived on scene and observed driver pushing the ATV toward a garage. He was told of the complaint. Driver said he was done riding.
Aug. 30
4:26 p.m. Lost juvenile. Fir Street E. Units were dispatched to a lost juvenile. The caller reported a 3- or 4-year-old boy was in her driveway and no adults were around. We learned the child may live on Cedar Street E. Officers went to the apartment building and spoke to mom in person and dad on the phone and explained they need to have someone watching there son. Officers released the child to mom.
Aug. 31
2:31 p.m. Texting while driving. CR 75/First Avenue NW. While on routine patrol, an officer was stopped at the stoplight on College Avenue N/CR 75. Officer observed the driver turn left onto westbound CR 75 with his phone in his hand and appeared to be texting. He saw the officer watching him and put the phone down. When the light turned green, the suspect was pulled over. The officer told him of the reason for the stop. He said he was turning music on on his phone and knew it was illegal to have your phone in your hands while driving. He acknowledged he should have put the music on before driving. The officer issued a citation for cell phone use, explained citation to driver and released.
Sept. 1
1:06 a.m. Suspected DUI. Second Avenue NW. Units were dispatched to a possible intoxicated driver leaving Kwik Trip west. Kwik Trip staff reported five juveniles were heavily intoxicated and left in a white SUV. Officer located a white SUV leaving the area and conducted a traffic stop at Minnesota Street W and CR 2. The driver said he didn’t have anything to drink and offered to do a breath test. Officer did and driver was negative.
11:33 p.m. Found property. College Avenue N. While on patrol, an officer was flagged down by the owner of Krewe restaurant who said there was an abandoned bicycle around his business for several days. Officer located the bike behind the Krewe restaurant, and transported it to cold storage. Officer was not able to read a serial number. Photo taken.
Sept. 2
1:32 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. County Road 75 W. Officer observed a vehicle in the parking lot of Taco John’s that was occupied with the lights on. They spoke with the two occupants who stated they were going to a girl’s house and burning time.
Sept. 3
11:05 p.m. Vandalism. Old Highway 52. Officer was dispatched to a complainant who stated somewhere between 10:30 p.m. Sept. 2 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 3 someone put a large dent in the hood of his car. He didn’t know who or how it go there. Just wanted it reported.
Sept. 4
3:10 a.m. Unwanted person. Minnesota Street E. Officers were dispatched to an unwanted person. They found the man on the sidewalk in front of the Roadway Inn. The man was emotional, questioned everything the officer did and was scared they would harm him. One of the officers spoke with the manager who stated he wanted the person to leave. The manager provided a cup of water and a Sprite per man’s request. The man then left as instructed and the officers advised him he could go to Kwik Trip. Approx 10-15 minutes later, Kwik Trip east called to request the man leave and said he was disturbed. When officers arrived, the man was not on scene. They located him at Neighbors Bar banging on the window of a door. Officers spoke with the man who said his stomach hurt, he was dehydrated, was tired, hungry and wanted to lay down. Shelters were full, no victim for any crimes, Kiwk Trip did not want to trespass, and the man did not have anyone close to go to. One of the officers requested Mayo to come to check the man out. Mayo arrived on scene, and the man then said he would go to the hospital with Mayo.
Sept. 5
9:14 a.m. Medical. Third Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to Generations Group Home for a nonverbal man who appeared to be in pain. Officers arrived and met with staff and patient; patient was shaking and appeared in discomfort. St. Joseph Fire Department arrived to take over care. Mayo arrived.
Sept. 6
2:35 p.m. Speeding. Minnesota Street E./Fourth Avenue NE. While on patrol, an officer stopped a vehicle driving 47 mph in a 30-mph zone. While on the stop, officer noticed the vehicle was expired but displaying 2024 tabs, ran the vehicle and it came back to a separate vehicle. Vehicle had both front and rear same tabs. Didn’t appear to be tampered with. Driver stated her stepfather has a black sedan she believes is a Ford but not sure. The vehicle tabs were for a Ford. Driver stated she has receipts for the tab renewal. She said she will talk with her mother who owns the car to get the issue fixed. No further at this time. Verbal warning given for speed and not carrying driver’s license on her person.
