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Have you ever been pulled over in an area by a police ofϐicer from another agency and
wondered how they could do that? It was most likely a trafϐic saturation brought on by
Minnesota’s TZD Trafϐic Safety Campaign. The TZD approach is based on the belief that even
one trafϐic‐related death on our roads is unacceptable. Each month agencies come together
and focus on targeted areas, saturating them with ofϐicers. Each saturation has a focus.
For example, April is Distracted Driving Month. Distracted driving contributes to 25% of all
crashes! From April 11‐20th, 550 drivers were cited for texting while driving during a
10‐day distracted driving campaign. According to the preliminary information from the
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Ofϐicer of Trafϐic Safety (OTS), the 10‐day event also
included:
1,394 citations for not wearing seatbelts
25 citations for not using child restraints
417 actions (378 citations and 39 arrests) taken against driving after revocation, driving
after suspension, or driving after cancellation
15 DWI arrests
Help us keep you safe. Watch the road, pay attention, and slow down—because WE will be
watching YOU! Brought to you by: Police Ofϔicer Denise Urmann
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
CHIEF
Mike Aschenbrener
MAY 2, 2014
Social Host Ordinance
Spring is here (according to the calendar anyway), and it is an exciting time of year for high
school seniors and their families. It is also the time of year when teens get caught up in un‐
safe behaviors. The Mendota Heights City Council worked diligently in 2013 to pass what is
called a SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE. What does that mean? Here are the basics:
It is different from State laws that prohibit adults from providing alcohol to minors. Instead
it makes it unlawful to provide an environment where underage drinking takes place.
Under the ordinance, a family member of the property owner who is at the event can be con‐
sidered a host, regardless of their age. Violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor offense
with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 ϐine.
As of March 2013, there were 97 cities in Minnesota with a Social Host Ordinance. The Men‐
dota Heights ordinance was adopted and put into effect in December, 2013, making this the
ϐirst prom, graduation, cabin season with potential consequences for party‐throwers.
You can ϐind more information about the offense on the Mendota Heights City Website ‐Your
Government, then City Code, Chapter 4, Section 6. Our goal is that this new ordinance will
deter underage drinking; keeping youth safe and improve the quality of life for residents.
SubmiƩed by Officer Jennifer Fordham
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Theft Tuesday 0011 hours
Officer Steve Meyer was dispatched to a home in reference to a theft of an iPad. In speaking with the
homeowners, they mentioned they hosted an Easter family gathering and after all of the guests left, their
daughters iPad owned by her school was missing. The homeowners believed that a family member who was
sitting in close proximity to the iPad at Easter stole it and pawned it. Upon further investigation, it could
not be determined that the family member stole the iPad. Case inactive.
Burglary Wednesday 1454 hours
Officer Scott Patrick along with Officer Michael Shepard were dispatched to a home on a burglary report.
Upon arrival, they noticed that the rear deck patio door was open and the homeowner was sure that it was
locked as well as a security bar put in place. The homeowners noticed that two laptops, an Xbox, iPods and
loose change were all stolen. Under investigation.
Fraud Thursday 1120 hours
Officer Scott Patrick met with a complainant in the PD lobby regarding fraudulent activity on her checking
account. The woman was notified by her banking institution that a $790.24 check was passed at a Walmart
resulting in her account to be overdrawn. The check number on the check was too high to be in
conjunction with the complainant’s checks. Under investigation.
Attempted Burglary/Drugs Thursday 1905 hours
Officer Todd Rosse was notified by dispatch that an attempted forced entry burglary had just occurred and
the suspect had fled the home. Upon arrival, Rosse was notified that Officer Michael Shepard and Sergeant
Eric Petersen had found the suspect. Rosse met with the homeowners and learned that the suspect, their
grandson, was attempting to break into the home that the grandparents lease to their other grandkids. They
stated that the suspect has lived there on and off and had been troublesome and was told several times to not
come back. In looking for damage to the home, the interior porch door had extensive damage. Shepard
and Petersen found several pill on the suspect and he was arrested for burglary and drug charges.
Burglary Friday 1532 hours
Officer Bobby Lambert along with Officer Todd Rosse responded to a home on an after the fact burglary
report. When the homeowner returned home from work, she found her front door damaged and forced
open. Two televisions were reported missing. No suspect information at this time.
DWI Friday 2243 hours
While on a DUI saturation in South St Paul, Officer Denise Urmann ran the plates of the vehicle in front of
her and the registered owner came back as suspended. Urmann initiated the stop and when making contact
with the lone male driver, she could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle.
Due to that and, red blood shot eyes and slurred speech, she began administering SFST’s. The male failed,
was arrested and was transported to Mendota Heights Police Department, a familiar spot since he had been
arrested by us last year for DWI. He was then transported to Dakota County Jail.
Damage to Property Sunday 0148 hours
Officers Tanner Spicer and Todd Rosse were approached by a complainant who stated his car had just been
hit by paintballs by a passenger in a green Jeep Liberty somewhere on Dodd Road. Complainant said he
chased the suspects for 25 minutes before reporting it. A windshield crack was incurred from this incident
and after a 25 minute chase, the only additional descriptive detail obtained was the Jeep had a smiley face on
the spare tire cover. Case inactive.
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Suspicious Person/Drugs Sunday 1501 hours
Officers Bobby Lambert and John Larrive were called to an area on a report of two suspicious males who were
reportedly walking in the area of Riverside Lane and Hwy. 13. One of the suspicious males was waiting in the
area for a ride due to the fact that he had hurt his ankle while moving furniture for someone who hired him in
the area. The other suspicious male was helping him with the move. Officer Lambert offered a ride to the
injured individual and before placing him in his squad asked him if he had any weapons on his person. He
stated he did not but he did have a pot pipe. Officer Lambert located the pot pipe in the front pants pocket.
Officer Lambert also located one small baggie that looked and smelled like marijuana and another baggie which
looked to contain methamphetamine. The male was then transported to MHPD on PC drug charges and
eventually released pending formal charges for Felony 5th Degree Controlled Substance Possession.
Theft Sunday 1724 hours
Officer Todd Rosse took a report on a theft . The reporting party stated that several pieces of inexpensive
costume jewelry had been taken from her second floor bathroom. No forced entry was noted anywhere around
the residence. The victim stated the last time she saw the jewelry was at 0600 hours Sunday morning. This
incident is currently under investigation.
Damage to Property Tuesday 0057 hours
Officer Jeff VonFeldt and assisting Officer Peyton Fleming were dispatched to the area of 1300 3rd Street in
Mendota on report of two males walking down the street and one of the males was carrying a pipe in his hand.
While Officer VonFeldt was attempting to locate the males he received a call from Dispatch that two vehicles in
the area reported damage. One vehicle had its back window smashed out and another vehicle had damage to its
passenger side window. The homeowner pointed out a broken golf club which was laying next to the vehicles
and stated the golf club was not his. The two suspicious males were located and questioned about the property
damage to which one of the males eventually admitted to their involvement. Both males were arrested and later
released from jail and issued citations by Officer Todd Rosse for misdemeanor damage to property.
DAC-IPS Wednesday 1522 hours
A local resident, well-known to our department, came in to MHPD to update some information. His driving
status was known, and when asked how he got here, he informed Investigator Willson that his girlfriend drove
him. Meanwhile, Officer Larrive was trying to check his driving status, but before he could complete the process
the subject headed upstairs toward the upper level parking lot Officer Larrive left the office and headed out to
check the situation and observed the subject, now suspect, get into the vehicle, into the driver’s seat. Officer
Larrive stopped him, told him why he had approached him, and asked about his driving status. The suspect
stated he had not driven in and that the passenger’s daughter had driven the car to the lot. However, when
confronted with proof, the suspect admitted to driving. Just then, dispatch aired a medical in the lower level lot
and it was the suspect’s lucky day. He informed him he would be released and receive his charges via mail. The
suspect was also told him he needed a licensed driver to move the car. Later, after clearing the medical, he
learned the suspect was indeed Cancelled-Inimical to Public Safety (DAC-IPS) so the charge is now a gross
misdemeanor and automatic plate impoundment. The vehicle was still there, so the plates were removed.
Officer cleared.
DAC—IPS #2 Thursday 1527 hours
Sergeant Eric Petersen watched a vehicle speed by him and soon stopped the car. The driver was only able to
provide an ID card and he soon learned she was DAC-IPS. She was placed under arrest, the plates were im-
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.
04/25—05/01 2014 YTD
Calls for Service 94 2631
Citations 7 600
Warnings 10 342
Police Reports 16 306
Response Time Average 5.68 5.78
Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood:
http://mendota.prophoenix.com/CS/CrimeMapping.aspx
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. The House Check Request
online form is available on our website; we have similar forms in the MHPD lobby
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.
A resident stopped
in to MHPD today
to say a special
”THANK YOU” to
O¥¥®Ù
JÊ«Ä LÙÙ®ò
for his speedy
arrival and service
to his request for
medical assistance.
Thanks, John!