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.
Oct. 10
4:47 p.m. Crash. Riverside Avenue N./Fifth Street N. Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash. The driver of the first vehicle stated they were heading north on Riverside when they rear-ended a second vehicle that was stopped waiting to turn. The driver stated they did not know the second vehicle had stopped until it was too late. No one was hurt and no citations were issued.
Oct. 11
9:25 a.m. Fraud. 17th Street N. The complainant called our officer regarding a letter they received in the mail from the IRS. The letter stated the caller owed taxes from California unemployment they had received in 2021 and needed to pay taxes on $27,000. The victim stated they worked for the courts and was employed with them in 2021 and never lived or worked in California at that time. Officers advised the victim to file fraud complaints with the IRS and unemployment.
Oct. 12
2:28 p.m. Gas Leak. Hi Vu Drive. Officers were dispatched to a report of a gas leak. Officers met with the homeowner who stated they smelled gas near their dryer. Officers entered the home and could detect a hint of natural gas. The Sartell Fire Department arrived to check the home. Upon further inspection no readings of gas were detected, and it was determined it was safe to enter the home.
Oct. 13
1 p.m. Vandalism. Riverside Avenue N. Officers were dispatched to Watab Park on a report of vandalism. Sartell Public Works informed officers they had found graffiti on the exterior of one of the buildings in the park. The graffiti was photographed and documented. There are currently no suspects.
Oct. 14
9:33 a.m. Theft. Sunset Avenue. Officers responded to a theft complaint. The owner stated they were going to move their boat when they found the entire motor, cover, locks, cables and gas tank were gone. The owner told officers the motor was bolted to the boat, locked cables and a padlock on it. The owner told officers the boat was last used in July and they had no idea when this could have happened. Officers were able to get the serial number for the motor and entered it as stolen to dispatch.
Oct. 15
8:50 a.m. Fire. 30 Avenue N. Officers were dispatched to the compost site for a smoldering pile of compost. Officers arrived on scene and found smoke and at times, flames, coming from a large compost pile. The Sartell Fire Department was paged to demolish the pile and soak it with water.
Oct. 16
3:33 p.m. Theft. Third Street N. The caller reported a theft of a ladder from their backyard. The complainant stated they had a metal extension roofing ladder that was propped up against their deck and sometime during the past two days the ladder went missing. The victim suspected the ladder may have been taken by the roofing company that was working on a vacant house next door. The caller stated the roofers had been in their yard before, which they had no reason to be. The value of the ladder was roughly $500.
Oct. 17
9:23 a.m. Illegal dumping. Scout Drive. While on patrol, officers came across a couch that was dumped near the gravel and dirt mounds. Officers also found five to six garbage bags filled with random items, an old recliner and a bunch of tires. Officers notified maintenance about the items that were thrown there.
Oct. 18
8:06 p.m. Traffic stop. Fourth Avenue S./Third Street S. Officers were on routine patrol, when they saw a vehicle failing to yield to oncoming traffic two times. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver about their driving behavior. The driver was given a verbal warning for the violation and for having expired registration.
Oct. 19
8:36 a.m. No pay. Pinecone Road. Officers were dispatched to a report of a gas drive-off. Officers spoke with staff who stated they saw a man pump $21.60 worth of gasoline and then took off with no attempt to pay. Officers learned the vehicle belonged to a resident in Waite Park and requested Waite Park police speak with the owner. Waite Park police spoke with the owner at his home and informed him he needed to pay for the gas or he would be charged with theft. The man returned a short time later to pay for the fuel.
Oct. 20
6:25 p.m. Verbal dispute. Sartell Street W. Officers responded to a verbal dispute. The complainant stated they had hired a company to paint the exterior of the home and found the contractor inside the house. The homeowner stated this isn’t the first issue with the contractor, who has shown up at odd times to do work and just wanted him to leave. The homeowner told the contractor he no longer has the job and to leave. The contractor was upset about the situation but left on his own.
Oct. 21
10:08 p.m. Traffic stop. Highway 15/12th Street N. Officers were heading south on Highway 10 when they noticed a vehicle with a broken taillight. The officer made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, who stated they did not have a driver’s license. The driver also stated they did not know where the insurance was in the vehicle. The driver was issued a citation for driving without a valid driver’s license and warned for driving with no proof of insurance.
Oct. 22
12:54 p.m. Harassment. Oriole Avenue. Officers were dispatched to the area regarding an harassment complaint. The caller stated his old roommates are harassing him about a TV he no longer has and wants his former roommates to stop calling him. Officers spoke with all parties and learned the TV was still at the apartment and that the owner never came to pick up. Officers advised all three parties to leave each other alone unless they could handle this issue civilly.
Oct. 23
1:30 p.m. Special detail. Third Avenue N. Officer Kari Bonfield was asked to introduce K9 Kimber to a third-grade class at Riverview Intermediate School. Officer Bonfield answered questions from the students and the kids took turns petting Kimber.
