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. 9
8:39 a.m. Animal complaint. Able Street E. Officer was dispatched to an anonymous animal complaint. Caller reported the dog at the residence does not ever get let out of the kennel and that it is not being fed or watered. Arrived on scene and spoke with dog owner. He was in the garage and in the process of feeding the dog and giving it new water. Water dish was frozen. Owner said the dog is let out regularly. Dog appeared healthy.
Jan. 11
10:38 a.m. Vehicles in ditch. CR 75. Officer was dispatched to assist Stearns Sheriff’s Department with a vehicle in the median on CR 75 east of the I-94 split. While the tow service was pulling out the vehicle, officer was parked in the left lane close to the shoulder with emergency lights on. The roads were icy from rain. While parked, officer was rear ended by another vehicle which then spun out and went into the ditch on the right side of 75. Three other vehicles went into the ditch due to ice and speeds. Prior to the crash, officersaid he could hear the tires locked up sliding on the ice. Officer requested other units to shut down CR 75 at the split. Stearns County deputy wrote the accident report and took photos. Vehicle was towed.
Jan. 12
2:44 a.m. Driving while suspended. 12th Avenue SE/Able Street E. Officer was driving westbound when officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound on CR 133 with a headlight out. Officer ran the plate, which came back with suspended registration. Officer stopped vehicle. The driver had a language barrier so communicated through his translator app. A Stearns County deputy told officer he had just stopped that vehicle and the driver was told not to drive. Officer spoke with driver on that and he said he knew he took a risk but did not have any friends with a valid license that could pick him and his passenger up soon. County deputy came on the scene and assisted. Officer issued driver a citation for driving without a valid license and driving with suspended plates. Driver said he understood it all. County deputy said he would transport driver and passenger to their address in Cold Spring and would leave the vehicle where it was. Officer told driver of city winter parking rules, and that he would get a citation for that. The winter parking citation was left on scene.
Jan. 13
6:40 a.m. Driving complaint. CR 75/Northland Drive. Officers were dispatched to a driving complaint near on a white van all over the road. Complainant could not get a plate just a description of a white van with critical habitat plates. Officers checked and were unable to locate the vehicle.
10:46 p.m. Fraud. Graceview Drive. The complainant stated when she was on her computer this morning it froze up. She stated she called a phone number on the screen, and that person transfered her to a “Judith Hamilton.” Complainant stated Hamilton had her go to the bank to set up a wire for $38,200. Complainant told officer the bank told her the wire would not go out until the morning of Jan. 16. Officer told caller to attempt to get in contact with the bank and have them cancel the wire if they can. Complainant also stated Hamilton told her not to tell anyone, and if she wanted to undo the wire, she would need to wire another $38,200. Officer told caller that this is most likely a scam and to block all of the numbers that called her. Officer asked complainant if she gave out any other personal information, and she stated no. Officer gave caller a case number, and advised her if she needed anything else to call.
Jan. 15
3:16 p.m. Accident. College Avenue S./Field Street. While on patrol, officer observed two vehicles parked on the side of the road with hazards on. Officer learned there was a crash. Vehicle one was driving northbound on College Avenue S., when vehicle two pulled out from Field Street. At this time vehicle one right front quarter panel struck vehicles two back left bumper. Exchange of info given. No injures were reported. State report to follow.
Jan. 18
4:50 p.m. Neighbor dispute. Schneider Drive. Officer was dispatched to a neighbor dispute. Complainant wanted to report at 9:30 p.m. she was sitting in her house with a light on and was not making any loud noises. She said she heard a walker screaming from outside her house. The walker yelled profane language. Complainant said she was afraid to go to bed. She said she wanted this incident reported in case she decides to apply for an harassment restraining order.
Jan. 20
3:53 p.m. Stuck vehicle. First Avenue SE. Male walked up to the police department to let us know he got stuck in the snow on the side of Little Saints School. He wasn’t on a road. The vehicle was towed out of the snow. No damage to the school observed.
Jan. 21
12:38 a.m. Fight. Minnesota Street W. While officer was driving down street, officer observed several people fighting outside Sal’s Bar. Officer ordered individuals to stop. Two individuals fled and one tried to flee but officer placed him into a rear clinch and escorted him to the front of the squad. Officer spoke with several people and they gave several different conflicting stories. Everyone officer spoke with did not want charges pressed. From what officer gathered, an individual was pushed inside the bar and she told another individual to not be rude. After that, people started pushing each other, then continued to go outside to fight. At this time, officers were not able to identify who the aggressive group was and no citations will be issued at this time. All parties refused medical. During this event, vehicle sped off after officer arrived and was yelling at the individuals fighting. Unknown if they were involved in the fight at this time.
Jan. 24
8:28 p.m. Property theft. 19th Avenue NE. Officer received a call of a truck behind a local business. Caller said he saw the truck on his camera a short time ago. Police squad saw matching truck leaving the area and stopped it and ID’d the driver. Driver admitted to being behind businesses and had a truck full of pallets. Driver said approximately 10 pallets were from Fabrel. Officer spoke to Fabrel manager who advised driver did not have permission but didn’t want charges pressed just to have the pallets returned. Driver agreed to this.
