If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should 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 www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes.
March 8
1:22 a.m. DWI. CR 2/I-94. An officer observed a vehicle with its radar traveling at 69 mph. The officer stopped the driver, a 28-year-old male from Paynesville, and observed bloodshot and watery eyes, and an odor of alcohol. The driver admitted to having one drink. The driver failed roadside tests, and was eventually determined to have a blood-alcohol level of .08. He was transported to jail.
6:51 p.m. Property damage. 1st Avenue NW. A vehicle, driven by a 21-year-old female from Somerset, Wis., while backing out of a parking spot and into the alley hit a metal protective pole for a utility box. The vehicle was damaged, and the pole was scratched.
7:39 p.m. Property damage. College Avenue N. A local man reported two of his windows were broken out the previous night of a building he owns. The man wished for police to record the incident, but plans to contact the suspect himself to give them a chance to take care of the damage.
March 9
1:27 p.m. Drill. Elm Street E. Police assisted a local business with a drill they performed to prepare for an active shooter.
March 10
4:47 p.m. Agency assist. Old Hwy 52. Anoka County asked for local police to help them arrest a suspect with a felony warrant who they believed was in St. Joseph. Police arrived at the address and found the suspect’s fiancee there. The fiancee was cooperative, and allowed police to search the home. The suspect was not home. The fiancee said she would inform the suspect of the warrant when he arrives home.
March 11
12:46 a.m. Traffic stop. Able Street E./9th Avenue S. Police ran the plate of a vehicle, and found a warrant for the registered owner, a 22-year-old male from Osakis. The driver was not the Osakis man, but a 28-year-old male from Sauk Centre. The driver did not have a driver’s license on him, and was nervous with blood shot eyes and slurred speech. Another officer noticed drug paraphernalia in the car. After a search, a substantial amount of a crystal-like substance, which tested positive as methamphetamine, was discovered. The driver was arrested on fifth-degree controlled substance, a felony, and fourth-degree DWI, a misdemeanor.
March 12
9:59 a.m. Medical. College Avenue S. An 87-year-old woman was confused and showing signs of a possible stroke. Police administered oxygen until the St. Joseph Fire Department and Gold Cross arrived.
March 13
3:15 a.m. Intoxicated person. College Avenue N. An officer observed a female running. She appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and upset. The officer made sure the female was not hurt, then tested and found she had a blood alcohol level of .20. The female was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital.
March 14
12:34 a.m. Bar check. Minnesota Street W. Officers checked bars for violations. None were found.
12:47 a.m. Disorderly conduct. Minnesota Street W. An officer was flagged down by a bouncer at a bar. The bouncer had confiscated a fake ID from a female, and her boyfriend, a 22-year-old male from Eagan, started pushing the bouncer. The bouncer detained the man, and asked police to remove him from the premises.
2:26 a.m. Traffic stop. College Avenue S. An officer observed a vehicle traveling 71 mph in a 60-mph zone. The car was stopped, and the driver was identified as a 21-year-old male from Collegeville. The driver only had an instructional driving permit, and the two passengers did not have driver’s licenses. A citation was issued for the instructional permit violation. The occupants called another friend for a ride.
3:04 p.m. Drug paraphernalia. Birch Street W. A person found a meth pipe in a backyard. They weren’t sure who it belonged to. Police broke the pipe into pieces and disposed of it.
5:55 p.m. Minor consumption. 2nd Avenue NW/Ash Street W. A 20-year-old male from Blaine and one other male were walking in the street with open beer containers. Both admitted to police they were under age and the containers had beer and were open. They were issued citations for minor consumption, and given warnings for the open containers.
6:32 p.m. Minor consumption. College Avenue N/Date Street W. An 18-year-old male from Shorewood was observed walking in public and drinking from a branded beer container. The male admitted to drinking and having an open container, and was issued a citation for minor consumption and a warning for the minor possession of alcohol and the open container in public.
