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05 09 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 CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener MAY 9, 2014 We often receive calls from parents about the best age to leave a child home alone, unsupervised. Dakota County Child Protection is required by law to ensure all children have adequate and appropriate supervision and has therefore developed guidelines to determine if an investigation should occur. The guidelines are based on several some general supervision criteria, including the child’s maturity, physical and mental health, and living conditions, among several more, as well as their age. With all factors in mind, here are instances when investigations may be assessed or investigated: Reports of children age 7 and younger left alone for any period of time. Reports of children age 8– 9 who are alone for more than 2 hours. Reports of children age 10– 13 alone for more than 12 hours. Reports indicating that children age 14– 17 are unsupervised while parents are absent for more than 24 hours will be screened, considering adequate adult back-up supervision. Babysitter guidelines It is acceptable for children age 11–14 to babysit with the expectation that the parent, guardian or caretaker will be returning to supervise the children later that same day. It is acceptable for ages 15 and older to babysit younger children for more than 24 hours. For more information and other relevant subjects, visit: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/healthfamily/parenting/ supervision/pages/default.aspx HOME ALONE GUIDELINES What would you do if your child suddenly disappears? The FBI now offers a FREE tool to help. This tool allows you to store photos and vital information about your children. In the event your child goes missing, you can show the pictures and provide physical iden- tiϐiers to security or police ofϐicers on the spot. You can also easily email the information to authorities in just a few clicks. The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as speciϐic guidance on what to do in those ϐirst few crucial hours after a child goes missing. The free app is currently available on both iPhones and Androids phones and be downloaded by the App Store or Google Play. Click HERE to read a story on how the FBI Child App helped aid a recovery of a missing boy. Please spread the word about this app to family friends; you never know whose life you can save. Note: The FBI (and iTunes) is not collecting or storing any photos or information that you en- ter in the app. All data resides solely on your mobile device unless you need to send it to authorities. Please read your mobile provider’s terms of service for information about the security of applications stored on your device. 2 We’ve set a $500 fund-raising goal to benefit the organizations below. Please help us achieve it by making a tax-deductible contribution. Make checks payable to: Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association L.E.M.A. 4335 Pheasant Ridge Dr. NE Suite #224-105 Blaine, MN 55449 Click HERE for Website National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund Division of Development 901 E Street NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20004-2025 Click HERE for Website May 11—17, 2014 In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Ofϐicers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement ofϐicers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. MHPD ėĊĒĊĒćĊėĘ ęčĊ ċĔđđĔĜĎēČ OċċĎĈĊėĘ ĜčĔ ĘĊėěĊĉ ĔĚė ĈĔĒĒĚēĎęĎĊĘ Ćēĉ čĆěĊ ĕĆĘĘĊĉ ĆĜĆĞ: 3 Theft Friday 1148 hours Sgt. Neil Garlock was dispatched to Gateway Bank on a fraudulent check report. The reporting party stated that a check was cashed on 04-03-2014 at the bank. The real owner of the check stated the check was stolen from her mailbox at her residence in St. Paul and endorsed by the suspect. The victim reported the theft to the St. Paul Police Department where she resides and the theft of mail occurred. Case is under investigation. Traffic—DWI Friday 2254 hours Officer Denise Urmann was on routine patrol traveling southbound on Sibley Memorial Highway when she noticed the vehicle in front of her drift to the right. As Officer Urmann continued to follow the vehicle its right side tires crossed over the right fog line two more times. Officer Urmann stopped the vehicle asked the driver to step outside the vehicle to determine that he was okay to drive. Office Urmann then conducted field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test. The test results indicated that the driver’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to drive and he was transported to the Mendota Heights Police Department. The driver was booked and released with a citation for 4th degree DUI and Driving While Impaired. Warrant Saturday 1956 hours Officer Steve Meyer was on routine patrol when a routine license plate check showed the registered owner had an active arrest warrant. Officer Meyer recognized the driver due to several past contacts. Officer Meyer located the vehicle and driver in a nearby parking lot. The warrant was confirmed and the driver was placed under arrest without incident. The driver was transported and booked to Dakota County Jail. The vehicle remained with the his passenger and arrangements were made for the driver’s parents to pick up the vehicle. Possession of a weapon Sunday 1729 hours Officer Steven Meyer was working Sunday afternoon when he spotted a woman carrying a bow and arrow on the Dakota County park trail. He followed the woman who then walked off the paved trail, into the woods and found her in an open green space where he observed the woman using the bow and arrow. Officer Meyer announced himself and requested the woman drop what was in her hands. He then ordered her out of the woods. The adult female had a large quiver of arrows attached to her belt and thigh as well as a large hunting knife on her person. Once these items had been removed from the woman she was escorted back to the paved bike trail where Officer Meyer questioned her activity. She stated that she was using dead trees for target practice and did not believe she was doing anything wrong. While the woman denied she was hunt- ing, the DNR Conservation Officer assisting Officer Meyer in the identification of the arrows said that this type of arrow was typically used to take birds while hunting. Coincidentally, visible on the hillside near where the woman was spotted target shooting were several wild turkeys. When asked again what her intentions were she repeated she was only there to target practice. Officer Meyer explained to her that she was not allowed to discharge or carry a bow and arrow in the Dakota County park system or in the City of Mendota Heights. She was issued a citation and released. 4 Detox Monday 2240 hours Officer Steven Meyer was dispatched to a local restaurant in reference to a man sleeping in a vehicle in the park- ing lot. Officer Meyer located the male sleeping in the back part of an SUV covered with blankets and a sleep- ing bag. After several loud knocks on the car window the male emerged from the blankets. The male was par- tially clothed from the waist down and was the only occupant in the vehicle. When Officer Meyer asked the male why he was sleeping in his vehicle in the parking lot the male seemed very intoxicated and had difficulty speaking. Officer Meyer asked him for identification which he was unable to locate after several attempts. The male was asked to exit his vehicle at which time Officer Meyer noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. The man, who admitted to drinking brandy in his vehicle in the parking lot, provided a Preliminary Breath Test of .278. Officer Meyer determined that based on the male’s actions and statements he was unable to care for himself and he was transported to the Ramsey County Detox Center and left in their custody. Theft Tuesday 0825 hours Officer Bobby Lambert took a theft from vehicle report from a male who stated that items from his vehicle had been stolen while his car was parked outside his condo. The vehicle had been left unsecure overnight. Miscellaneous papers and a garage door opener had been stolen. Officer Lambert advised the victim to notify the building manager of the stolen garage door opener. There is no suspect information at this time. Theft Tuesday 1349 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a theft from vehicle report at a different apartment complex but the victim reported a very similar story as our other victim. He left his unlocked vehicle parked outside overnight and when he returned the vehicle was there but his belongings inside were not. There are no suspects and this case is currently under investigation. Traffic Wednesday 0425 hours Officer Steven Meyer was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle with its headlight out. Upon checking the license plate on the vehicle it came back as belonging to another vehicle. Officer Meyer conducted a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle said that the vehicle belonged to his boss who owns a used auto dealership. The vehicle was purchased at an auction and the driver was going to fix the headlight as well as some additional body work on the vehicle. Officer Meyer informed the driver that the license plate on this vehicle was not the correct plate and actually belonged to a different vehicle. The driver denied knowing anything about that saying that he picked the vehicle up from the dealer and the dealer was the one who put the plate on the vehicle. Officer Meyer asked if the vehicle was insured and the driver was unable to show proof of insurance. Officer Meyer then asked the driver if he knew his license had been revoked in the state of Minnesota. The driver said he did not know that as he did have a valid driver’s license in the state of Indiana. Unfortunately, all this lack of knowledge on the driver’s part resulted in Officer Meyer issuing him a citation for no proof of insurance, driving after revocation in the state of Minnesota, and transferring motor vehicle registration plates, tabs or stickers to another vehicle. The vehicle was towed. 5 The Annual Spring Clean- Up “Dump Day” held on Sat, May 3rd was a huge success! We’d like to give a special thank you to Chief Mike Aschenbrener, Investigator Mario Reyes & Police Reserve Admin Becky Pentel who volunteered on behalf of the Police Department. 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. 05/02—05/08 2014 YTD Calls for Service 118 2789 Citations 29 636 Warnings 20 365 Police Reports 15 330 Response Time Average 5.32 5.76 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.