03 21 14 JTF1
The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
SUPPORT STAFF
Kim Henning
Trista Miller
Lisa Brandt
Becky Pentel
POLICE OFFICERS
Jerry Murphy
Scott Patrick
John Larrive
Bobby Lambert
Tanner Spicer
Todd Rosse
Jeff Vonfeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Peyton Fleming
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
Jennifer Fordham
INVESTIGATIONS
Mario Reyes
Chad Willson
SERGEANTS
Neil Garlock
Brian Convery
Eric Petersen
RESERVES
Randy Pentel
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
George Castillo
CHAPLAINS
Frances Cuenca
Joel Detlefsen
Lynn Liberman
Butch Millett
Sue Plucker
John Snider
David Wick
Lenny Andrie
CHIEF
Mike Aschenbrener
MARCH 21, 2014
“Dog Watch” Shift
Have you ever thought about what happens when you go to sleep at night?
MHPD has a “Dog Watch” shift. This shift starts at 22:00 (that’s 10:00 p.m. for the “normal
people of the world”) and ends around 07:30 a.m. The shift starts with a “brieϐing” from a
Sergeant or a senior ofϐicer who ϐills us in on anything to be aware of for our safety or the
activities that went on during the day. We routinely check local businesses and residences;
anything around the city that may look suspicious.
We respond to a variety of different calls, including medicals, check the welfare or the
occasional alarm which at times leaves us walking around homes in 3 feet of snow in subzero
temps. Around bar close, we may ϐind the occasional disorderly conduct or drunk driver who
decides to risk of driving between the lines… and fails. And, in the winter, we’re the ones who
put that annoying parking ticket on your vehicle for your ordinance violations.
Ultimately, we look forward to the light of day when the next shift arrives and go home to sleep,
ready to return to work refreshed and ready to keep the city secure, while you sleep.
And now you know…
What technology are you and your family using these days? Social media, apps and phones are
evolving so quickly it’s hard to keep up! As with anything that grows or changes quickly, it can be
accompanied by problems and risks. One of the most worrisome risks to both youth and adults is
“Electronic Aggression.”
Electronic Aggression/Cyber‐bullying:” Using the internet, mobile phone or other digital
technology to send mean, vulgar or threatening messages or images, post sensitive and/or
private information about another person, pretend to be someone else and/or assume a false
identity and exclude someone from a group.
Harassment/Bullying: includes the following factors: an imbalance of power, where people
who use their power to control or harm victims who have a hard time defending themselves; an
intent to cause harm, where there is a goal to bullying; and repetition, where an incident occurs to
the same person over and over.
Electronic Aggression inspires emotional and behavioral issues both at school and at home. It is hard
to prevent, address and overcome, largely because it is nearly impossible to identify or escape a
cyber‐bully. The action is not face‐to‐face and a cyber‐bully can easily hide. And, due to the
far‐reaching inϐluence of technology, it may not just impact one person, but an entire school,
workplace and community.
The best preventive tools remains open communication, staying informed about what your kids are
using and ensuring they are using it appropriately. Positive reinforcements like “The Golden Rule,”
responsibility and accountability can also make a difference in preventing detrimental behaviors.
Check out these sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/electronicaggression/index.html, and
http://www.ϐindyouthinfo.gov/ for this and other great info.
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Warrant Wednesday 2249 hours
While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming observed a vehicle at a local gas station and after running
the plate, the registered owners status came back as a felony drug warrant. The vehicle was unoccupied and a
man matching the owners description was standing at the counter in the gas station. Fleming then
approached the man to identify him and the man told Fleming that he is not the registered owner but does
have an outstanding warrant that is traffic related. The man was placed under arrest.
Theft from Auto Thursday 1730 hours
Officer Scott Patrick was dispatched to call a theft from auto victim. In speaking with the woman, she stated
she returned home to find her front passenger side door glass shattered and her Pioneer stereo system
removed from her dash. The woman was able to obtain the parking garage’s video surveillance for that
timeframe. Under investigation.
Domestic Friday 2225 hours
Officer Steve Meyer was dispatched to a home on a domestic. Upon arrival, Meyer learned from the father
that his son had just fled after striking him in the face which was clear due to his face being red, swollen and
a small cut by the eye. The fight ensued because of a TV dispute which lead to a loud argument. The
younger sister then got involved causing the son to get more agitating and started throwing and breaking
things. The son then swung several times at the father striking him in the face and head and then fled the
home. Meyer made contact with the son a short time later who then came to the PD and was placed under
arrest.
Theft from Auto #2 Monday 0918 hours
Officer John Larrive responded to a home on a theft from auto call. In meeting with the victim, she stated
her vehicle that has been parked and not used in quite some time was parked in the underground garage and
was damaged overnight. The drivers side window was smashed and the after market stereo system was stole
from inside her dash. She mentioned that there were cameras in the garage and she would work on
obtaining video footage.
Property Damage Accident Monday 1413 hours
Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a one vehicle accident. A witness stated that the driver was driving at
the wrong side of the highway. Larrive gave the driver a PBT test which was .00 and he showed no signs of
impairment. Driver stated that he was lost and was using his GPS to get around town. Road signs were
damaged from the accident and driver was issued a citation for no proof of insurance and careless driving.
St Patrick’s Day Revelry + Dakota County Traffic Safety Grant = Action!
No DL/No Insurance/Impounds Monday 1524 & 1616 hours
Officer Urmann cited one driver who did not have a DL nor insurance on the car; the vehicle was towed.
She then stopped another car with an equipment violation and found not only another uninsured motorist,
but as suspended one! Another impound and citation.
Accident/DWI/AOA Monday 1729 hours
Officer Michael Shepard came upon skid marks which led to a broken fence; a vehicle had attempted to
brake on a sharp curve, slid sideways and went thru the fence, down the hill and ultimately stopped in the
ditch at I35E. The driver was found to be intoxicated; since a DWI enforcement was in progress, the arrest
was handed over to the St Paul PD officer working in our jurisdiction; Officer Shepard assisted with writing
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Check Welfare/DWI/AOA Monday 1830 hours
Officer Michael Shepard responded to a check the welfare of a possible intoxicated party having trouble
entering her home. The female was found being helped into the residence by another female. The woman
was muddy, wet exhibiting signs of too much partying, even informing Officer Shepard she had “celebrated
St. Patty’s Day a little too much.” He observed the fresh, wet mud tracks in the driveway and asked if she
had driven herself home; she confirmed she had and was relieved she made it home alright. A traffic safety
detail officer was called to respond to handle the arrest, and a WSPPD officer arrived and took over the
DWI.
Domestic Tuesday 0755 hours
Officer John Larrive, along with Investigators Mario Reyes and Chad Willson, responded a domestic in
progress where a female reported threats made by her husband against both her and her children. Upon
arrival, he learned the husband (not the father), had been verbally abusive toward the children and to her
over the past week and the father had already taken custody of the children. However, the behavior was
ongoing and things continued to get heated and remained unresolved. The husband also kept a large store
of guns at the neighbors and based on his behavior, wanted them removed for safekeeping. Parties were
advised on next steps to ensure peace and safety and officers cleared.
Stolen Plates Wednesday 1321 hours
Officer Todd Rosse was called to meet with a party in the lobby who wanted to report a theft of a plate. The
owner of the vehicle stated that an employee, who witnessed an accident in December, was told by an officer
that his plates didn’t match each other and was advised to look into it. The employee went to the DMV the
next day to correct the issue and they decided to pull off both plates and issue new ones; the DMV then
destroyed the plates. Then, last week, Ramsey County notified the owner that a vehicle registering to them
was cited for wrong plates/tabs, bearing the previous plate number and realized one of the plates had been
actually been stolen/swapped. The owner filed this complicated report with us in order to bring it to the
hearing and clear up the citation. The original license plate was then entered as stolen into NCIC. Officer
cleared.
Stolen Vehicle/Plates & Drugs Wednesday 0057 hours
Officer Spicer was patrolling a retail area when he spied a vehicle entering the area and approaching a
business that was obviously closed. Upon running the plate, he found they were stolen and executed a stop;
the parties within the vehicle—four of them—were held until assisting officers arrived. They soon found the
plates and vehicle were stolen, and they found drug paraphernalia and forged checks. Evidently they all
hooked up thru their drug activity; even though two of them were pregnant, they decided to make the event
more fun by doing some meth together. Two parties admitted to stealing the car, one of whom also had a no
bail warrant. One lied about his identity and was found to be in possession of forged checks. All admitted
to their charges and all were taken to jail with felony charges. Case pending formal complaint.
Theft—Tires Thursday 1053 hours
An employee came out to his work vehicle to find four tires and rims had been stolen right off the vehicle!
The vehicle had been last attended to on Monday. The thief was nice enough to prop it up with one block.
No surveillance of the area is available; no suspect. Case inactive.
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Please send us your
positive feedback
on our staff to:
pdrecords@
mendota-heights.com
Your feedback is greatly
appreciated and helps boost
the morale of our staff.
Have a Safe Week!
If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on
vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than hap‐
py to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. Make your House
Check Request online at www.mendota‐heights.com, visit us in the MHPD lobby
to complete a form or call us and we will take your info over the phone.
MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment,
call 651.452.1366 to contact Ofϐicer Jennifer Fordham.
MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County
residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and over
‐the‐counter medication.
3/14—3/20 2014 YTD
Calls for Service 131 1,776
Citations 38 470
Warnings 25 206
Police Reports 14 192
Response Time Average 6.89 5.86
Everyone here at
MHPD does such a
great job that we
can’t just point out a
few individuals,
TEAMWORK!