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.
Jan. 1
1:55 a.m. Vehicle in ditch. CR 2. Officer was dispatched to a vehicle in the ditch at 31723 CR 2. Officer arrived and saw a vehicle in the west ditch facing northbound. The male driver later said he lost control around the corner because of bald tires. Officer saw damage to the left side of the vehicle caused by a sign he hit. Officer advised dispatch to contact county maintenance and did a crash report due to damage to the sign. Driver was uninjured. Driver said he could have the vehicle towed out in the morning. Officer advised to leave hazards on due to being on a snowmobile trail.
Jan. 3
5:39 p.m. Threat call. CR 2. Officer was dispatched for a threats call. The complainant said when he was at the union meeting in Waite Park, an individual came up to him and threatened him. Complainant said after the union meeting, the man came up to the complainant and told him he knew where he and his wife live. Complainant said suspect stated he knows complainant’s wife works as well. Complainant gave description of suspect’s vehicle and said he did believe the suspect when he said he knew where the couple lived. Complainant did not want any extra patrols; he was just advised by the Waite Park Police Department to contact them to let them know what had happened. Complainant was told that an email will be sent out to the department about the issue at hand.
Jan. 4
10:06 p.m. Hazard. CR 75/CR 133 Officer was dispatched for a hazard at CR 75 and CR 133. The eastbound left turn lane traffic light on CR 75 to go north on CR 133 was not tripping. Officer responded to the hazard and sat at the red light for approximately eight minutes and through three light cycles. Officer turned on emergency lights to trip the lights and to reset the cycle. Dispatch informed the highway department.
Jan. 6
2:03 a.m. Vehicle in ditch. CR 75/Cedar Street East. While on patrol, officer observed a vehicle in the ditch on CR 75 and Cedar Street East. Officer made contact with the driver who told the officer he slid into the ditch. Officer had dispatch call for a tow and stood by to provide lights until the tow truck arrived.
Jan. 7
11:24 a.m. Fraud. Cary Court. Officer was dispatched to an unemployment fraud complaint at 1212 Cary Court. The complainant called stating her employer, Bernick’s, received an unemployment confirmation email from the state of Minnesota. The complainant told her employer she did not file for the benefits. The complainant was told to make a report. The complainant has already spoken with credit reporting agencies and was advised to talk with her bank as well. She advised the only recent thing she did with her social security number was through the state for her passport. She will report if anything further occurs.
The complainant called back in stating she received a letter from Broward Health Systems in Florida. She said she lived in Florida for a short time and went to the hospital there once. The letter advised there was a breach in their patient info system back in October 2020 and that her info may have been leaked. The complainant has her accounts and credit being monitored and locked.
Jan. 8
7:47 p.m. Unattended dog. CR 75/CR 3. Officers were given information that there was a dog around the CR 75/CR 3 area. Officer found a dog in the median of CR 75 near the 2/3 split. The dog appeared to be a sheltie/husky mix. Officer got the dog into the back of the squad car and transported him to city maintenance. Pictures of the dog were taken and sent to office staff. The dog has a blue collar/no tags.
Jan. 9
6:55 p.m. Gunshots heard. Birch Street West/Fourth Avenue Northwest. Officer was dispatched to gunshots call near the area of Date Street West and First Avenue Northwest. One officer patrolled the area while another patrolled Fourth Avenue Northwest and Ash Street area. Officer noticed a vehicle parked at the skating rink. Officer stopped and spoke with the driver and she said she saw fireworks near the Fourth Avenue Northwest and Birch Street area. She said she then saw a pickup truck drive away.
