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.
Sept. 11
6:03 p.m. Furniture outside. Ash St. E. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a couch outside in the side yard an Ash Street E. property. Officer gave renters until 9 p.m. to get it moved inside (was moved before officer cleared the call).
Sept. 12
12:12 p.m. Loud music complaint. Baker Street E. Officers were dispatched to a loud music complaint. Complainant asked to stay anonymous. Upon arriving on scene, officers could not hear loud music. Officer made contact with a renter and his roommate who said they had been cleaning downstairs but were not playing music at the time. Officer advised to keep bass down when playing music.
11:26 p.m. Public urination. Minnesota Street W. While on patrol, officer witnessed male urinating in public; man was identified and cited.
Sept. 14
8:58 a.m. Vandalism. Fourth Avenue SE. Complainant said yard was egged; this is the third time complainant has reported such activity in past four months. No suspects identified. Complainant said they have political signs in their yard and not sure if egging is related to the signs.
Sept. 15
5 p.m. Hit and run/accident. Co. Rd. 75/Co. Rd. 2. Both vehicles were slowing for a stoplight when Vehicle 1 was rear-ended by vehicle 2, who then drove away. Driver of vehicle 1 said vehicle has some scratches and a crack on rear bumper; driver was able to obtain the plate number and description of Vehicle 2, a red pickup with a trailer and a Freeport business name on the vehicle side. Complainant sent photos via text to officer who then located driver of Vehicle 2, who said he didn’t know if he had made contact with Vehicle 1 as he thought maybe the trailer had made the noise when he applied the brakes fast. Driver of vehicle 2 said he was going to turn off and stop but the other vehicle sped away. There’s no damage on his vehicle. Accident report filed.
Sept. 18
9:39 a.m. Suspicious person. 91st Avenue. Complainant reported someone claiming to be from Xcel Energy was at her residence wanting to come inside and look at the gas meter. Complainant thought it was odd because she said he did not have any identification and his vehicle had no markings or plates she could see. She also said he parked a ways away from the house. He did provide her a card with an Xcel Energy logo on it but she said it looked like it was torn off from somewhere else. Checked the area and cleared.
1:10 p.m. Theft. Ninth Avenue SE. Complainant reported a theft from his yard. Sometime on Sept. 17 between noon and 4:30 p.m., someone stole their Biden/Harris political sign. Estimated worth $5. No suspects at this time.
1:15 p.m. Furniture outside. Fifth Avenue NW. Complainant said inside furniture was sitting outside a residence. Officers observed a recliner in the backyard that had clearly been there awhile. Officer contacted party and informed him he needed to move the chair and cut the grass. Party said it would be taken care of.
11:53 p.m. Suspicious activity. Minnesota Street E. Officer was dispatched to suspicious activity of a dark-colored Ford Taurus with spoiler and back rims harassing female college students. Officer was flagged down by the caller, who stated nothing took place tonight but caller recognized car from previous events. Nothing further.
Sept. 19
6:56 a.m. Found item. Callaway Street E. Someone found a set of keys on the road in front of his house and turned them into the police. Officer drove around the area pushing the keyless remote to see if it activated any vehicle or alarm. Nothing located. Placed keys, consisting of a remote and two keys, into property.
12:50 p.m. Theft. American Legion, Minnesota Street W. Complainant said letters from their outdoor sign were stolen. The sign reads Freedom isn’t free, don’t take it for granted. Complainant said the EE from Free and the ED from Granted were stolen. Complainant said those same letters from the same words were stolen two weeks ago. Set of letters runs $600; $8 per individual letter. Complainant took all letters down but wanted to file report. No cameras or suspects.
Sept. 20
4:11 a.m. Iverson Street W. An officer was dispatched to a home where a male was continuing to knock and ring the doorbell of a female, who had asked him to leave. The male was at first calm but became agitated when the female refused to talk to him. The male refused to leave the area and did not want a ride. After allowing the male to vent, he agreed to leave if the female told him to. Officer called the female and put her on speaker; she asked the male to leave. The male eventually went onto public property. The female decided to leave so officer stood by until she did. Officer also advised female of an Order for Protection. Female said she believed male was undiagnosed bipolar. When officer left, male was sitting under a streetlight at a nearby intersection. Female called officer and stated after leaving, male jumped in front of her car and got inside. They drove a ways and then male took female’s truck keys and left. Officers made contact with male shortly afterward. Only key male had was two keys to an apartment. Female believes he stashed her keys at the apartment. Female did not press charges, said she just wants male to leave her alone. Officer transported female to her home.
Sept. 21
3:12 p.m. Cell phone violation. Co. Rd. 75/Co. Rd. 133. Officer observed suspect stopped at stoplight with cell phone in hand talking. Officer stopped vehicle on CR 75, made contact with driver and advised of reason for the stop. She said her phone was on speakerphone and she was holding it because the bluetooth wasn’t working and needed to be on a conference call for work. Officer informed her Minnesota is a hands-free state and she is only allowed to be on the phone for the purpose of making an emergency call. Cited for cell phone use. Driver was very upset and crying and said she would be losing her job.
10:06 p.m. Collision. Co. Rd. 75/College Avenue. Officer was dispatched to crash. Vehicle 1 was westbound in the left lane on Co. Rd. 75 stopped at a red light at College Avenue N. Vehicle 2 was also westbound on Co. Rd. 75 in the left lane slowing down behind Vehicle 1. Vehicle 2 rear-ended Vehicle 1 causing minor damage to each vehicle. No injuries reported. Accident information was exchanged. No state report as damage is believed to be under $1,000.
Sept. 22
10:56 p.m. Speeding/seat belt violation. College Avenue S./Callaway Street E. Officer witnessed and radar supported suspect traveling north on College Avenue at 44 mph in a 30-mph zone. Officer also observed driver was not wearing a seatbelt and watched driver buckle up as he passed officer. Officer stopped vehicle and advised reason for stop. Driver admitted to going too fast when pulling out of St. Ben’s campus. He also showed the officer he was wearing his seatbelt but admitted, after officer said he wasn’t wearing it originally, that he indeed hadn’t buckled up originally but said he usually does. Officer cited suspect for both offenses. Driver was upset and asked why officer did not issue a warning. Officer said he believed driver was going too fast and if he wished to contest the citation to go to court.
1:17 p.m. Cell phone violation. College Avenue S./Minnesota Street. Officer observed female looking at her phone while at the intersection. Officer stopped and identified driver who admitted to reading a text from her mother.
11:05 p.m. Disorderly conduct. Eighth Avenue SE. Officer was dispatched to disorderly female. Upon arrival, officer did not observe anyone around. Male said female had left in a car. Male said she’d been pounding and kicking his door for the past four hours. He stated he was inside the entire time texting a friend on what to do. All of the female’s items are in the garage for her to move due to issues. Male said he never went outside and there was no damage to his doors or property. Male wanted female to leave or calm down and pack her belongings and leave. Waite Park officers checked storage units in their city where female might be to talk about incident. No further action requested from male. No crime.
Sept. 23
11:44 a.m. Crash with injuries. Co. Rd. 75/20th Avenue SE. Officer spoke with individuals involved in a crash with possible injuries. Vehicle 1 was eastbound on CR 75 in the right lane. Driver of vehicle 1 said he had a green light so he proceeded through intersection when driver of Vehicle 2 was westbound on CR 75 and turned left to go southbound on 20th Avenue SE. Driver of Vehicle 2 stated he thought the light was green but was not 100% sure. Front of Vehicle 2 hit front driver’s side of Vehicle 1. Minor injuries. All parties declined transport. An officer assisted with triage, took photos and gave parties a ride to a residence in town.
4:29 p.m. Crash. Birch Street W./First Avenue NW. Officer found both vehicles in the middle of the road and unable to be moved due to the vehicles stuck together. Both drivers stated Vehicle 1 was turning left when it suddenly turned right and side swiped Vehicle 2 traveling northbound on First Avenue NW. Officer issued citation to driver of Vehicle 1 for no proof of insurance. Both drivers exchanged information. Neither vehicle was towed. Photos taken of scene.
7:55 p.m. Stranded vehicle. CR 75/Old Hwy. 52. Officer observed a North Memorial ambulance on the side of CR 75 with its flashers on. Officer activated emergency light and stopped to make sure they were OK. The driver stated they had just hit a deer and another ambulance was on its way to transport the patient, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Officer wrote report. Mayo arrived on scene and transported patient. Driver said they would wait for tow, which was 30 minutes out.
Sept. 24
4:20 a.m. Collision. CR 75/College Avenue N. Officer met with both parties involved in a collision, which they moved into the Speedway parking lot. Both parties stated Vehicle 2 rear-ended Vehicle 1 while they were slowing down for the traffic light at the intersection. One party was issued a citation for Driving After Revocation. Driver of Vehicle 2 said her parents wanted her checked out due to a headache before she leaves the scene as she still had a two-hour drive home. Officer waited until ambulance arrived on scene.
Sept. 26
7:44 p.m. ATV complaint. 12th Avenue SE. Complainant called in to file a complaint about a larger, older, loud side-by-side running around the neighborhood. Complainant said the side-by-side is loud enough to wake up someone sleeping in the house. He said the suspect ATV lives in the neighborhood, and he could direct us there if needed. We discussed extra patrol in the area. Except for extra patrol, no further action required.
Sept. 28
10:46 a.m. Trash can violation. Minnesota Street W. Officer observed trash cans on the curb and trash (beer cans, full garbage bags, junk) all over the yard. Officer filled out a red tag notice and made contact with a tenant at the residence who said they had missed garbage collection two weeks in a row and put the cans out so they would not forget again. Officer informed tenant the cans need to be removed and the trash needs to be cleaned up. Tenant was given a 24-hour notice and told a citation would be issued if not cleaned up. Later officer observed all trash had been cleaned up and trash cans removed from curb.
Sept. 30
5:53 a.m. Road obstruction. College Avenue S. Officer observed some wooden barricades that had tipped over due to wind. Barricades were blocking road. Officer stopped and set them back up.
Oct. 2
6:20 p.m. Found item. Callaway Street E. A citizen turned in a wallet she found on the Wobegon Trail half way between St Joseph and Avon. Officer contacted the wallet owner and made arrangements to meet him. Owner confirmed all contents were still in the wallet.
11:04 p.m. Loud music. Minnesota Street W. Officer was dispatched to a loud music complaint. Upon arrival, officer could hear loud voices coming from inside a house. Officer observed college students exiting; a male slammed the door and said “Get a warrant, b…ch.” Officer knocked on the door. A renter identified himself and said he was the only renter. Officer observed male as intoxicated by his slurred speech and lethargic movements. He was also stumbling and swaying while moving/standing. Officer could smell a strong odor of alcohol from him. He was cited for minor consumption and given a verbal warning for noise. A second officer assisted with the call and confirmed he could smell alcohol from the suspect.
Oct. 3
1:03 a.m. Found item. Minnesota Street W. Officer was flagged by a male who said he found a cell phone behind the processing plant. After handing the officer the phone, it rang and the person calling said it was her friend. Officer met with the friend, who identified the phone, screen picture and passcode correctly. She was given her phone.
