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.
Oct. 12
9:25 a.m. Harassment. Iverson Street W. Officer was dispatched to a harassment complaint. I called and spoke with complainant and gathered details. Complainant had dated the male for approximately a month, and they recently broke up. Complainant said male had been calling, messaging and showing up at her house unannounced. Complainant stated this morning she heard a loud vehicle, heard a loud bang and believed she saw the male suspect drive away. Officer spoke with complainant about some options like getting an Harassment Restraining Order.
Officer texted male to leave female alone. Male called officer back and was frustrated. Suspect stated he now wanted to press charges against female complainant for putting scratches in his vehicle. He said female had put his property on his vehicle and scratched it. He also stated female put a 2-1/2-ton jack on his vehicle.
Officer spoke with a friend of the male who was a witness. Witness said there were clothes and a soundbar on male’s vehicle when they got there. Witness said he did not witness female intentionally damage the vehicle. Female claims she only set a bag of male’s clothes on the vehicle.
Officer called and spoke with city attorney. Based on info, not enough evidence for a criminal-damage-to-property charge. Both parties were told to stop any and all contact with each other. Officer also told both of them to apply for separate HROs if they wished.
No further action unless information is received.
Oct. 14
4:04 p.m. Hit-and-run accident. Lanigan Way SW. Officer was dispatched to a hit-and-run at Woodcrest Assisted Living. Officer responded and upon arrival met with the victim. Victim said her vehicle was hit by another vehicle described as a silver SUV and had license plate number. Officer ran number and it came back to a silver SUV. The registered owner of the silver SUV had signed the check-in list at Woodcrest earlier.
Officer attempted to call suspect, but only got a voicemail. Officer left a message and stated to call police officer upon receipt of message.
Officer told the victim the crash happened on private property and that officer could not write a state report for it. Officer advised her that it will be handled through the insurance company. Officer gave victim officer’s business card with the incident complaint report and advised her to let her insurance company know.
Suspect called officer back and said she was at Woodcrest and when she was leaving the parking lot in her vehicle, she heard a clunk. Suspect stated she thought she had hit a white Buick in the parking lot. After hitting the Buick, suspect stated an alert came on her dash that indicated low tire pressure. Officer gathered suspect’s insurance information and gave suspect the ICR number and told her victim’s insurance will be in contact with her.
Officer called victim back and told her officer was able to get into contact with suspect and had gathered suspect’s insurance information. Nothing further to report.
7:50 p.m. Driving without a license. CR 75/Cedar Street. E. While on routine patrol, officer observed a vehicle, without its headlights on. The vehicle had the fog lights and marker lights on. Officer activated emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. Officer then approached the driver, identified driver, and told him the reason for the stop was because the vehicle did not have any headlights on. Driver stated he had it set to only have the fog lights and marker lights.
Officer asked driver if he had a driver’s license, and driver stated he did not. Officer asked driver if he ever had a driver’s license; driver stated he did not. Officer gathered driver’s name and date of birth and had dispatch run information. Officer issued driver a citation for driving without a valid license. Officer explained citation to driver, and driver left the vehicle on the side of the road and walked home.
Oct. 16
7:04 a.m. Dog at large. Minnesota Street E. Officer was dispatched to a dog-at-large call. Complainant reported a German shepherd with no tags was contained in her yard. Arrived on scene and located the dog. Friendly dog but would not get in the car. On call city maintenance came out with the kennel and the dog was transported to city maintenance. Dog owner called in reporting her dog ran off this morning. Officer told her the dog was impounded and is currently at the humane society. Officer told her she needs to call the humane society to claim the dog and she would need to come into the St. Joseph Police Department on Monday to pay the impound fees before she gets the dog back. Also advised her she needs a dog license. Dog owner said she understood.
Oct. 17
12:10 a.m. Burning. Fourth Avenue NW. Officer was dispatched to a burning complaint at Fourth Avenue NW by an anonymous complainant who had heard loud fireworks. Officer arrived on scene and talked with three adults attending a fire in the backyard. They said the fireworks came from a couple of blocks away, there was not an issue with the fire. Nothing further.
Oct. 26
11:36 p.m. Suspicious person. Baker Street E. Officers were dispatched to a suspicious person in a backyard on Baker Street. The complainant called stating a male was walking through the backyard and knocking on the neighbor’s door. Officer arrived on scene and located suspect in the backyard of the townhomes. Suspect said his girlfriend lives in the building. He said he was at home in St Cloud when his girlfriend told him to come over and hang out. Suspect drove to St Joseph, but his girlfriend would not answer the door or her phone. Suspect knocked on the door, rang the doorbell, and was tossing his headphones at the girlfriend’s window to try and wake her up. Suspect had a vehicle there. He said he was going to try calling a few more times before leaving. He apologized, advising he was trying to respect neighbors and trying to be quiet. There is a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order when running suspect’s name, but the protected party does not live on Baker Street.
Oct. 29
11:22 p.m. Intoxicated male. College Avenue S. Complainant requested police to her apartment complex for an intoxicated male in the common hallway of the building. Officer arrived on scene and located the suspect laying in the hallway between the complainant’s apartment door and the adjacent apartment door. The suspect was blocking the complainant’s door with his body. It took significant prodding and poking to wake the suspect. With the assistance of another officer, officers were able to wake the suspect. After several minutes of fumbling in his pants pockets and wallet, the suspect gave officer’s an Illinois driver’s license. The Illinois driver’s license came back not on file. After asking the suspect several times for a “real” driver’s license, he provided officers with his Minnesota driver’s license. Preliminary breath test was administered and suspect tested .238 A bed was reserved at detox for the suspect. Officer issued a new Minor Consumption incident complaint report and charges relating to the false ID and minor consumption as well as Detox were processed on that incident complaint report.
Oct. 31
7:48 p.m. Window peeping. 20th Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to a window peeker. Complainant reported a male was standing outside her living room window taking pictures. They did not get a description other than a male. The male was last seen walking east. Officer checked the area with negative contact. Spoke with the complainant who has not had any contact with anyone that would cause her concern.
Nov. 1
11:31 a.m. Fire. Northland Drive. Responded to a furnace fire. Upon arrival, officer spoke to homeowners who stated the furnace had started on fire. Male advised he was able to get the fire out with an extinguisher however there was a lot of smoke. St. Joseph Fire Department arrived and determined the fire was out. Let the St. Joseph Fire Department ventilate, and officers provided traffic control.
