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.
Dec. 8
8:25 p.m. Suspicious activity. Northland Drive. An officer investigated a complaint of four men smoking marijuana near the garages at 535 Northland Drive. The officer checked the area but did not locate anyone.
Dec. 14
9:25 a.m. Collision. CR 75 and First Avenue NW. Driver one was traveling west on CR 75 when driver two pulled out from Kay’s Kitchen and entered the left turn lane on First Avenue NW. Driver one was unable to avoid rear-ending vehicle two. Driver two thought driver one was going too fast. No citation was issued.
3:15 p.m. Collision. CR 75 and CR 133. Vehicle one was rear-ended by vehicle two. The drivers pulled off to the shoulder. There were no injuries.
9:53 p.m. Traffic stop. Minnesota Street SE. and Fourth Avenue SE. An officer stopped a vehicle for driving east on Minnesota Street at 45 mph in a 30-mph zone. The driver had a revoked license. The driver was cited for speeding, driving after revocation and no proof of insurance.
Dec. 17
1:46 a.m. Suspicious person. Second Avenue NW. A suspicious person was reported at Kwik Trip West. A customer advised an employee that someone was looking into car windows. An officer checked the area but did not find anyone.
4:25 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Jasmine Lane E. A woman reported a man in a pickup parked on Jasmine Lane. An officer checked the area but did not locate the vehicle.
Dec. 19
8:26 p.m. Suspicious activity. Dale Street E. and Jefferson Lane. A person reported a flashing light behind a residence. A light was reflecting off a bird feeder and appeared to be flashing.
Dec. 22
12:26 a.m. Theft. Second Avenue NW. A woman left her wallet at Kwik Trip after making a purchase. When she retrieved her wallet later the next day, she reported that $160 in cash and a $30 gift card was missing.
Dec. 23
11:35 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Birch Street W. A vehicle was parked with its lights on at the end of Fifth Avenue NW. An officer met with the two occupants. The driver said he was waiting to pick up a friend. The driver could not tell the officer where his friend lived and then told the officer the friend was going to meet him. Because of the changing stories, the officer told the two men to leave the area.
Dec. 25
7:45 p.m. Burglary. 10th Avenue SE. An officer arrived to find a man using a power tool to open a garage. The man said he was helping a friend to get into the garage because the cable was broken. The friend verified that everything was OK.
Dec. 27
1:37 p.m. Burglary. Hill Street W. An officer arrived with a Stearns County deputy to a burglary-in-progress complaint. The officer found most of the missing items belonged to a person living in the house. The officer explained the incident was a civil matter and the caller could trespass the person.
1153 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Eighth Avenue SE. A man reported a car repeatedly driving slowly past his residence. An officer searched the area.
Dec. 28
7:14 a.m. Crash. CR 75 and CR 133. A truck struck a stop light pole and it fell over the bed of the truck. The driver was attempting to make a left turn and slid on the ice and hit the pole. The officer provided traffic control while county maintenance worked on the pole.
9:13 a.m. Collision. CR 75 and CR 133. Vehicle two ran into the back of vehicle one. Vehicle one was stopped in the left turn lane waiting for a green light and vehicle two was unable to stop.
7:53 p.m. Suspicious person. Fourth Avenue NE. A caller reported a suspicious man in the area. When the officer arrived, the man, described as just wondering around, had left. The caller said the man had been in the area multiple times.
Jan. 1
9:53 a.m. Crash. CR 75 and Second Avenue NW. The driver was heading west on CR 75 when he hit ice and went off the road. The vehicle was extensively damaged and needed to be towed.
Jan. 2
10:28 a.m. Vehicle complaint. Minnesota Street E. and Second Avenue SE. An officer observed a parked vehicle blocking a sidewalk. After the officer was unable to contact the owner, a tow was called. As the tow arrived, the owner showed up and the vehicle was removed
Jan. 3
12:39 a.m. Warrant arrest. 10th Avenue SE. When an officer went to a man’s house to arrest him on an outstanding felony warrant, the officer learned the man was also wanted on a felony warrant from Iowa. The man was taken to Stearns County Jail.
Jan. 7
2:53 p.m. Counterfeit. Elm Street E. A Central Minnesota Credit Union teller reported a counterfeit $50 bill. No suspect was identified. The bill was placed into evidence.
Jan. 8
5:58 p.m. Collision. Minnesota Street E. There were no injuries. The officer met with both drivers, obtained insurance information and completed a crash report.
Jan. 9
3 p.m. Collision. Elm Street E. Two vehicles collided in the Coborn’s parking lot. The officer met with both drivers and advised them how to handle the situation.
Jan. 13
10:23 p.m. Suspended license. CR 75 and Eighth Avenue NE. An officer checked the registration of a vehicle off CR 75 near Old Hwy. 52 and learned the registered owner’s license was suspended and he was the subject of a misdemeanor warrant from Yellow Medicine County. The vehicle was stopped and the driver cited for driving after suspension and taken to Stearns County Jail for the warrant. A friend moved the vehicle.
Jan. 14
1:24 p.m. Theft. Minnesota Street W. A woman reported a sandwich sign board had been stolen from outside the American Legion on Oct. 27 or 28.
