04 04 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
APRIL 04, 2014
How to obtain a Permit to Carry
Submitted By: Police Ofϐicer Peyton Fleming
In Minnesota, carrying a ϐirearm in public is illegal unless you are an active or retired law
enforcement ofϐicer, are a security ofϐicer acting in the course and scope of your employment or you
have a permit to carry. Under the Minnesota Personal Protection Act, eligible qualiϐied residents
may apply for a permit to carry a ϐirearm.
To be eligible for a permit to carry, you must meet the following criteria:
21 years of age or older.
Complete an application form.
Must not be prohibited from possessing a ϐirearm under Minnesota State Statute 624.714.
Must not be listed in the criminal gang investigation system.
Must be a resident of the county from which you are requesting a permit, if you reside in
Minnesota. Non‐resident may apply to any Minnesota county sheriff.
Must provide certiϐicate of completed authorized training. Training certiϐied by a certiϐied
instructor must be completed within one year of an original or renewal application.
After completing an approved Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) course with a
qualiϐied instructor, residents must ϐill out an application and present it in person to the sheriff’s
department of the county they reside in. By law, the sheriff must issue or deny the application within
30 days. The cost of the application varies but cannot exceed $100. Permits are valid for ϐive years.
More information is available on the BCA website.
Pay Attention and Drive!
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a national observance that gives employers
an opportunity to focus on the leading cause of work‐related deaths: trafϔic crashes. During
2010‐2012 in MN, distracted/inattentive driving was a factor in 1 out of 4 trafϐic crashes,
resulting in an average of 66 deaths and 8,376 injuries per year.
Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off your
driving can be a big problem. In fact, studies prove that your brain cannot give full attention
to more than one thing at a time. Driving Distractions Include:
* C e l l p h o n e u s e * E a t i n g
* Radios and CD players (loud music) * Smoking
* Adjusting vehicle controls * Daydreaming
* P a s s e n g e r s * S l e e p i n e s s o r F a t i g u e
* Programming GPS systems
Text‐messaging, emailing or accessing the web on a wireless device while driving and while
stopped in trafϐic or at a stop sign or stop lights is ILLEGAL on MN roads!
Minnesota Cell Phone and Texting Restrictions: Statute: MS 169.475
For more information and tools on how you can pass the message along, Click Here.
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Theft from Motor Vehicle Thursday 2011 hours
Officer Michael Shepard spoke to complainant regarding a theft from motor vehicle and learned when she
had returned to her vehicle after work, her passenger side front window was broken out and a bag had been
stolen from the vehicle. However, nothing of value was reported missing. No suspects. Case inactive.
Theft Friday 1158 hours
Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a local business on a report of a theft. He met with the HR Manager
who stated an employee used a customer’s remaining balance on a gift card to make a purchase. It turns
out, the customer had called the employee and asked about the balance on the gift card and then told the
customer there was a zero balance. However, the following day, an order was placed using that gift card
number. The HR Manager does have documentation proving the transaction. Under investigation.
Civil Saturday 0116 hours
Officer Tanner Spicer was dispatched to call a reporting party in reference to his missing vehicle. The RP
stated he loaned his vehicle to a friend who was to later pick him up from work; however, she changed the
plan, choosing to not return the car at all. RP was advised that since he gave her permission to borrow the
car that this is considered a civil matter until he comes into the PD to file a stolen vehicle report.
Drunkenness Saturday 2251 hours
Officer Tanner Spicer, along with Sergeant Eric Petersen and Officer Todd Rosse were dispatched to a local
bar on a report of an out of control drunk female. Upon arrival, the woman was located, but ran around the
vehicles in the lot in a futile attempt at evading officers. It was evident she was extremely intoxicated, but she
refused a PBT and was then transported to Ramsey County Detox.
DWI Sunday 0113 hours
While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming observed a vehicle entering St. Peter’s Church and Fleming
found it odd because the church was closed. The vehicle then left the parking lot and as he was following it,
he lost sight of it and had to speed up in excess of 80 mph to locate it again. Fleming initiated a traffic stop
and approached the vehicle. Upon making contact with the driver, Fleming noticed bloodshot eyes and
slurred speech. In asking how much he had to drink, he stated one drink around lunch time. The male was
then asked to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests; he failed testing. The male was then
placed under arrest for DWI.
Fight/Medical/Weapon Sunday 0228 hours
Sergeant Eric Petersen along with Officers Fleming, Rosse and Spicer were dispatched to a local gas station
parking lot on a report of a fight. When officers arrived, they saw a man with blood coming from the top of
his head. When asked what happened, he stated, “Nothing.” HealthEast was called to the scene and shortly
after it was discovered that 3 other males were involved in the dispute. Two brothers got into a fight while
the other two individuals tried to separate it. All parties were intoxicated and they did not wish to press
charges. The vehicle was searched and a handgun was found. The owner of the handgun had a valid permit
to carry, yet due to his intoxication and the fact the vehicle had to be left at the scene, the gun was brought
to MHPD for safe-keeping. One individual was transported by medics while the other three were given a
sober ride by officers.
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Runaway Sunday 1214 hours
Officer Bobby Lambert was dispatched to call a concerned mother regarding her son who left home a few
days prior and refuses to return home. The mother heard he was staying at a friend’s house so she contacted
the parents of the friend. The friend was directed to give him a ride back home but instead, went to
McDonalds where he again refused to go home. The juvenile then left with two unidentified females. Later
in the day, Lambert was notified that the juvenile had returned home.
Theft from Motor Vehicle - AGAIN Monday 0902 hours
Officer John Larrive was once again called to a regular apartment complex on a theft from motor vehicle in
an underground garage. The victim returned to his vehicle several days later to find the glove box had been
rummaged through. A GPS unit as well as $60.00 cash was stolen. There is no video surveillance and no
suspects at this time.
Theft from Motor Vehicle - AND AGAIN Wednesday 1725 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming was dispatched to a local restaurant on a report of a theft from motor vehicle. Upon
arrival, Fleming met with the complainant who stated he had his car parked in the lot for a short time
outside the business and when he returned, he found items missing including a briefcase containing an iPad,
checkbook, passports and miscellaneous items. The suspect gained entry to the vehicle because the owner
had left his dog in the car with the window rolled down a little. A short time later, dispatched relayed a
message that the items had been found at a nearby Walgreens parking lot. It appeared as though everything
was still in the briefcase with the exception of the iPad. The suspect vehicle was on surveillance at Walgreens
and the iPad did have a locate feature on it which gave an address close to that of the suspect vehicle. Under
investigation.
Hit & Run Thursday 0153 hours
Officer Denise Urmann was dispatched to assist WSPPD on a hit and run accident report where a vehicle
was smashed into a tree in someone’s yard. It appeared as though the vehicle had been traveling at a high
rate of speed, did not stop at an intersection and went right through the victim’s front yard and into the tree.
Airbags had been deployed and the vehicle plate came back not on file. In searching the glove compartment
a drivers license application along with the vehicles registration was found. A cell phone was also found
under the driver’s seat. Urmann made a call to the registered owner and asked her if she knew the location
of her vehicle; she stated it was behind her house. Urmann proceeded to tell her that it was not and what
condition it was found in. Urmann explained the cell phone she had found and the woman said it was her
son’s phone but her son was with her; however, another son of hers was home… charges pending.
DWI Thursday 1343 hours
While on routine patrol, Officer Michael Shepard observed a vehicle traveling without headlights on during
rain/sleet and failed to change lanes for Shepard’s squad car that was at the side of the road with emergency
lights activated. Shepard proceeded to pull the vehicle over and upon approaching the lone male occupant,
immediately could smell an alcoholic beverage coming from the male. The driver stated he had only had one
beer at Bogey’s, but Sgt Garlock, assisting at the scene, knew he was lying because Bogey’s was not yet open
for the day. The male was then asked to perform field sobriety tests which he failed. The male was then
placed under arrest for DWI and when searching him, a small container of marijuana was also found. He
was transported to Dakota County Jail where he was booked and released.
4
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 happy
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 Coun‐
ty residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and
over‐the‐counter medication.
3/27—4/03 2014 YTD
Calls for Service 100 2,043
Citations 14 502
Warnings 21 228
Police Reports 16 228
Response Time Average 5.55 5.91
MHPD
Reserves
do not go
unnoticed!
In 2013, the
Reserve Unit
volunteered almost
2,700 hours to our
community.
At the April 15th
Council MeeƟng
Reserve Officers
will be recognized
for their
outstanding work
and dedicaƟon.
The following
Presidential
Awards will be
presented:
Bronze
Jerry Murphy
George Castillo
Silver
Becky Pentel
Jeff Parker
Gold
Randy Pentel