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.
June 3
9:26 p.m. Fireworks complaint. Dale Street. The complainant stated a household on Dale Street was lighting off fireworks. Officers arrived in the area and did not locate any fireworks being used. Officers spoke with the homeowner who said no one was lighting fireworks, but his son was driving a four-wheeler around the house.
June 4
5:51 p.m. Unresponsive person. Third Avenue SE. Officers were dispatched to a medical for a 97-year-old woman who was unresponsive and stiff. Officers arrived on scene found woman laying on the floor. Officer checked for a pulse and did not locate one. Victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
June 5
2:01 p.m. Stop-sign violation. First Avenue SE/Baker Street E. Officer observed a vehicle traveling south on First Avenue SE that did not slow or attempt to stop for the stop sign at the intersection. Officer stopped the vehicle and told driver the reason for the stop. Drive said he was thinking about other things and didn’t see the sign. Officer issued a stop-sign-violation citation.
June 6
5:22 p.m. Trail sign down. Frontage Road/CR 2. While on patrol, an officer observed a trail crossing sign that was run over and laying across a paved trail. It appears a vehicle with dually tires (possibly a semi) did not take a wide enough turn from northbound CR 2 to frontage road. It appears the sign was run over. No semis or other vehicles in sight, no identifying info left behind. Officer took pictures, moved the sign off of the trail and called Stearns County Highway to report incident.
June 8
3:25 p.m. Road hazard. CR 75/Fourth Avenue NE. Officer arrived and found an old chair that looked like it fell off a vehicle. Officer moved the chair to the side of CR 75.
4:57 p.m. Animal rescue. Millstream Park, 725 CR 75. While on patrol, an officer was approached by the complainant asking for assistance at Millstream Park. The complainant was at the dog park when another person noticed two baby raccoons go under his truck. The complainant found the two raccoons hiding on his axel behind the passenger wheel. No one could see the mama raccoon anywhere. Officer used baton to get the raccoons out from under the truck. The raccoons were placed in a box and relocated to a wooded area. The baby raccoons were saved.
June 9
5:12 p.m. Vandalism. St. Joseph Parish Cemetery. Officer was advised two individuals were in the cemetery and noticed there was some vandalism to many flowerpots and flower stands. There were two juveniles messing around in the cemetery earlier in the day, so the officer arrived on scene and observed there to be a mess of broken flowerpots/flags/stands thrown around and broken. The officer attempted to get ahold of St. Ben’s groundskeeper to see how they would like to proceed but was unsuccessful. Officer went to the juveniles’ house and spoke with the mother, and the two boys that we dealt with earlier, explained to the mother the complaints and asked to speak to her kids. After some time and speaking with the boys, they admitted doing it. Officer showed mother the pictures of the damage and said the boys were to be held responsible for their actions. She agreed and said she would clear it up. After not being successful in speaking with St. Ben’s., officer told mother they would contact her tomorrow and come up with a game plan. She advised she can’t take the kids anymore and they were going down to their dad’s in St. Paul. She stated she wanted (the boys) to take care of it but sounded like she was already on her way down to Twin Cities, but said she would help with the damage. Officer followed up with the groundskeeper about giving the boys some community service since someone already cleaned up the cemetery; talked about having the boys do some garbage cleanup after the fourth of July. Officer told mother of these things; she was good with it. She doesn’t know when the kids will or if they will be back staying with her. Father of the boys called into the Police Department about the incident and about what he should do about it. The boys will not be back in town for the Fourth of July. Officer said parents will need to deal with providing consequences on their own.
June 12
4:07 p.m. Theft. Complainant came into St. Joseph Police Department to report sometime within the last two weeks broke into his storage unit. He stated a DeWalt cordless drill and a Greenly knockout set were stolen. Padlock was cut. Upon arrival complainant had already put two new locks on the unit. Officer recommended locks that show little of the lock mechanism so it would be harder to cut. No known suspects currently. Stolen property receipt filled out and signed. Total of $300 of tools stolen.
June 13
11:24 a.m. Suspicious activity. College Avenue/Jade Road. While on patrol, officer observed a car parked on the side of the road. Officer pulled up to vehicle as it was occupied by a woman. She was asked if she was having car troubles; she stated no, she was just waiting for someone out for a drive. No assistance needed. No body cam.
5:03 p.m. Property damage. Vista Apartment. 20th Avenue SE. An officer was dispatched to a property damage at the Vista Apartments. They spoke with the complainant. She said her daughter’s bike was damaged. Looking at the bike the front rim was bent, but the rest of the bike is in good condition. Complainant requested obtaining video to try and find who did it and stated she just wants the parents to pay for the rim. Officer went to Vista Apartments to speak with management to obtain video. They showed a video of a 9-year-old boy who jumped on the bike and broke the front tire. Officer met with the mother of the boy, showed her the video and she agreed to pay for the damage. Contact info was passed on to bike owner.
June 15
5:53 p.m. Speeding. Minnesota Street/12th Avenue. SE. Officer observed a vehicle traveling eastbound that appeared to be traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 30 mph. The radar was activated and it displayed a speed of 51 mph, which the officer locked in. The tone was consistent with the speed. The vehicle turned and the officer conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of CR 75 and CR 133. Driver said she didn’t know the speed of Minnesota Street E. and said she was trying to get home because her child was hungry. Officer issued a citation for speed 51 mph in a 30-mph zone, and explained the citation to her. The radar was tested at the beginning of the officer’s shift and shortly after this stop and it passed and appeared to be functioning properly.
June 16
11:45 p.m. Fireworks complaint. Millstream Park. While on patrol by the softball fields at Millstream Park, an officer saw fireworks going off and saw two white men by vehicle. Officer ID’d both men. One suspect said he lived on Iris and didn’t want to wake anyone up. Officer advised the park closes at 10 p.m. Both men picked everything up and left the area.
June 17
8:37 p.m. Unwanted person. 10th Avenue SE. Officers were dispatched to an unwanted person complaint. A woman called in to say she needed a man removed. She stated the man was threatening her nieces and nephews and disturbing the peace. The woman provided a partial address and the phone disconnected. A woman approached and said about 10 minutes ago she witnessed another woman walking. Officer learned this woman was on her phone and was upset. Officers continued to search the area, but did not locate anyone that needed assistance. Dispatch attempted to call the number and it went straight to voicemail.
June 20
8:18 p.m. Crash with injuries. CR 75/First Avenue NW. Officers were dispatched to a crash with injuries. They observed vehicle #2 on its roof and vehicle #1 with severe front-end damage. Both drivers were out of the vehicles. Driver #1 was complaining of stiffness in his neck. Officer held c-spine until rescue took over patient care. Driver #2 did not complain of pain, but he was bleeding from the head and had a cut on his hand. Driver #2 refused to go to the hospital with the ambulance but was transported by private party. Driver #1 went to the hospital by ambulance. Officers observed there to be alcoholic beverages in vehicle #2, did field sobriety test on driver #2 and did not observe any signs of impairment. Driver #2 gave a breathalyzer sample of .000. Both vehicles sustained severe damage and were towed.
June 23
3:08 p.m. Animal complaint. Second Avenue SW. Officer was dispatched to a neighbor complaint regarding a cat. Complainant reported her neighbor’s cat was in her garden today and it has been an ongoing issue with the cat going to the bathroom in the garden. Advised neighbor is responsible for cleanup and can be cited for violation of city ordinance and to try and get photos or videos to prove violation. Officer spoke with her, as requested, and she said it was an accident. Explained same to her that she could be issued a citation. She understood.
June 24
6:36 p.m. Noise complaint. College Avenue S. Officer was dispatched to a noise complaint. The complainant said there were people at this apartment building driving a four-wheeler around and being loud. Officer went and spoke with resident, who was in the yard with friends and family. She said she understood and would keep it down.
June 26
7:35 a.m. Medical. Cypress Drive. Officer was dispatched to Hollow Park apartments for a man who said he was feeling suicidal and in severe pain. He was currently on the line with the Veterans Administration. Arrived on scene and spoke with victim and the VA nurse. She advised an ambulance should transport him to the hospital and treat the pain and they would refer him to the VA and get him over there. He was OK with that recommendation. Ambulance was requested and arrived on scene and transported him to the hospital.
June 27
8:10 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. Elm Street E. Officer was dispatched to a suspicious vehicle. Complainant reported the vehicle was parked next to the dumpsters and out of place. Arrived on scene and located the vehicle. Observed a man sleeping inside. Officer woke the man up. He said he was homeless and living in his car. Officer told him he was not wanted in the business parking lot. He understood and left with no issues.
