If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 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.
Jan. 3
11:11 a.m. Assist person. Second Street S. An officer was dispatched to assist a person who told dispatch she had dropped her cell phone down the sewer grate. The officer arrived on scene and could see the phone in plain sight in the sewer drain. The officer contacted the Public Works Department, and they came and removed the drain cover and helped retrieve the phone without incident.
Jan. 4
3:15 p.m. Shoplifting. CR 120. Officers were dispatched to two women concealing items on their persons. Store loss prevention stopped the women, and both denied stealing merchandise. It was found the one woman had two items not paid for in her cart, worth $98.97. The other woman which was found to be a juvenile had an item concealed in her jacket and was worth $15.44. The store wanted both cited for misdemeanor theft. While identifying the women, the officer learned the juvenile woman had a body warrant. The juvenile woman was taken to Stearns County Jail without incident and cited for theft.
Jan. 5
4:50 p.m. Information. Ninth Street N. The complainant called regarding a water line break earlier today. The caller was concerned her water was still coming out brown. The officer contacted maintenance and informed them of the complaint. The maintenance department told the officer to have the woman run water and said it may take a while to flush the discoloration out.
Jan. 6
2:18 p.m. Agency assist. CR 1. A Sartell officer was requested to assist with an accident involving a Metro bus. The officer was informed there were injuries but unknown how many. When the officer arrived, they confirmed, it was a three-vehicle crash with injuries. Sartell Fire was also dispatched to assist. The officers assisted in directing traffic.
Jan. 7
4:56 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. River Vista Lane. An officer was dispatched for a call of a white Chevy truck parked in front of the caller’s house. The officer located the vehicle and spoke to the male driver. The man stated he was waiting for a woman to meet him; he pointed to the complainant’s residence as though she was coming from there. The officer asked him if he knew her name, the man stated he met the girl on-line and he was supposed to give her the cards. The officer was able to see the cards, in the man’s hands were Visa gift cards. The officer advised the driver the residence he had pointed to is the caller’s address. The officer informed the man he may be being scammed; the man stated he would leave the area and not come back.
Jan. 8
1:59 p.m. Hazard. Pinecone Road N. An officer was dispatched to a road hazard. A man had told dispatch a box of nails had been spilled across the intersection. Officers arrived and started clearing the nails and Public Works arrived shortly after with a broom to assist.
Jan. 9
8:49 p.m. Property damage. Pinecone Road S. An officer was notified of a yield sign laying down in the snowbank. The officer responded and located the sign. The officer notified Public Works of the sign down.
Jan. 10
3:03 a.m. Suspicious activity. Seventh Street S. While an officer was on routine patrol, they located an SUV with the rear hatch open in a driveway. After further investigation the officer located the vehicle’s keys on the front seat. The owner was contacted, and nothing appeared out of place. The vehicle was secured.
Jan. 11
9:01 p.m. DWI. First Avenue N. Officers were notified of a possible intoxicated driver. The officer located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The officer had the driver step out of the car and they spoke near the squad car. The man admitted to drinking and told the officers he knew what was about to happen. The officer noted alcoholic beverage odor coming from the man. The man submitted to field sobriety and ultimately didn’t pass. The man was arrested and transported to the Stearns County Jail for DWI.
Jan. 12
7:30 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Fourth Street N. An officer was dispatched to a complaint of a silver SUV parked in front of the complainant’s house. The vehicle was located and unoccupied. The officer was able to locate the owner. The man was able to show work credentials that he worked for a solar surveying company contracted by Xcel Energy. The officer asked if the man had a solicitor’s permit, which he did not. The man was told he was not allowed to go door to door until he obtained a solicitor’s permit from the city.
Jan. 13
4:32 p.m. Suspicious activity. Fourth Avenue S. Officers were notified by dispatch that the caller’s nephew was at her storage unit, and they believed he had found blood on the ground near the next unit. Officers responded and took photos before opening the unlocked storage unit. When the unit door was opened, it was found to be empty. The officer tested the unknown substance, it did not test positive for human blood.
Jan. 14
12:10 a.m. Unwanted. 26 Street Loop N. Officers were requested for a male party who was at a residence and refusing to leave. The caller told the officer he had asked his friend to leave because of an argument they had once they got home from the bar. The man refused to leave and followed the caller into the garage and had pushed him down several times. The caller told the officer he had that on video but didn’t want to press charges. The man refused to identify himself and was willing to leave in the Uber in the driveway.
Jan. 15
9:52 p.m. Vehicle in ditch. 15th Street N. Officer observed a vehicle in the ditch on the northwest corner of the intersection and a man trying to dig it out. The officer assisted the man with digging the vehicle out of the snowbank. The man showed no signs of impairment and was the registered owner of the vehicle.
Jan. 16
3:35 a.m. Domestic. 10th Street. Officers were requested for a verbal argument between a husband and wife over fixing a toilet. The man had woken the woman up and an argument started. The man then threatened the woman and she felt unsafe, so she sprayed the man with pepper spray. The man was arrested for domestic assault-fear and booked into the Stearns County Jail.
