10 24 14 JTF1
The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
CHIEF
Mike Aschenbrener
SERGEANT
Eric Petersen
POLICE OFFICERS
Jerry Murphy
John Larrive
Bobby Lambert
Tanner Spicer
Todd Rosse
Jeff Vonfeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Peyton Fleming
Nick Gorgos
Robin Nelson
INVESTIGATIONS
Chad Willson
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
Jennifer Fordham
SUPPORT STAFF
Kim Henning
Trista Miller
Lisa Brandt
Becky Pentel
RESERVES
Randy Pentel
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
George Castillo
CHAPLAINS
Frances Cuenca
Joel Detlefsen
Lynn Liberman
Butch Millett
Sue Plucker
John Snider
David Wick
OCTOBER 24, 2014
Help Your Kids Become Good Citizens
Ask anyone what he/she thinks a good citizen is, and more than likely
you will get a different answer each time. Some may think that a
good citizen is involved in his/her community, while another may say
that a good citizen is law-abiding. Teaching children to be a good
citizen when she/he is young can help her/him to develop into a
responsible adult.
Empathy: Empathy is key in creating and maintaining genuine
human relationships. It is important to teach children that despite our differences we are
all human beings.
Respect: The “golden rule” is well known. Tell your children that being respectful
means being courteous of others for who they are as people. Being tolerant of people
who are different from us is key to treating someone fairly.
Volunteer: Being a responsible citizen begins with taking care of the environment
around us. Make your child aware that giving your time can be just as beneficial as
donating money to a charity or organization.
Obeying the Law: Good citizens do not put others at risk. Good citizens follow the
laws that govern their state or country. Rules are meant to keep people safe. As a parent,
if you follow the rules (for example, not speeding, wearing your seatbelt or paying taxes)
and do all you can to be a good example hopefully your child will follow suit.
Parents—Keeping Your Cool With The Kids
Ask the right quesƟon when a child is being difficult and your temper is about to flare. Instead of thinking,
why is he/she doing this to me, focus on your child; there is probably a reason behind it. Are they hungry,
bored, Ɵred, or in need of your aƩenƟon. Try to meet their needs instead of your anger geƫng the best of
you.
Keep an anger journal that documents when you lose your cool. Look for paƩerns, Ɵme of day, circumstances.
Brainstorm ways to minimize the angry acts. Talk with your kids, let them know it irritates you when they
don’t do their chores, have them brainstorm with you how the situaƟon can get beƩer.
Minimize marriage spats. If you argue in front of the kids, excuse yourself from the situaƟon to calm down.
When you are calm, discuss with your partner ways to handle arguments differently and reassure your kids
you were mad at their dad earlier, we’ve talked and are working it out and that we sƟll love each other and
that someƟmes people who live together get angry.
2
3
Possession of Marijuana Friday 00:29 hours
Officer Tanner Spicer was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle approaching with it’s high-beam
headlights coming at him and failing to dim them. Officer Spicer stopped the vehicle and made contact with
the driver and his passenger. Officer Spicer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside the
vehicle. Officer Spicer asked the driver if he had recently been smoking marijuana to which the driver
admitted that he had and that he saved all his “roaches” in the ashtray. Officer Spicer inspected the vehicle
and found the roaches in the ashtray as well as a newly rolled blunt under the front passenger’s seat. The
driver was issued a citation for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The seized marijuana was seized
and taken to the Mendota Heights Police Department for evidence.
M e n t a l H e a l t h F r i d a y 1 7 : 0 6 h o u r s
Officers Peyton Fleming and Steve Meyer responded to a mental health crisis. The mother reported the
juvenile was off his medication and making suicidal comments. Upon arrival officers found the juvenile
standing on the hood of a vehicle that was parked in the driveway. Officers spoke with the mother who stated
the juvenile seemed very depressed and was having suicidal thoughts. The mother requested that her son be
transported for his safety. Paramedics arrived and transported the juvenile to the hospital.
B u r g l a r y S a t u r d a y 2 3 : 1 1 h o u r s
Officer Steve Meyer responded to a residence on report of a burglary. Officer Meyer spoke with the residents
who had been gone for the evening and came home to find the door from their garage to their home had
been forced open and many personal items had been stolen. As Officer Meyer was processing the scene he
learned from the homeowners that in addition to the items inside the home missing one of their garage
openers was missing from one of their vehicles which had been sitting in their driveway earlier that day. This
was likely how the thieves were able to gain access into the garage and then forced entry into the home.
There are currently no suspects and this case remains under investigation.
Gas Drive-Off Sunday 11:32 hours
Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a gas station on a report of a theft of gasoline. The gas station
employee described the vehicle and the direction in which it left. The vehicle was not located. The employee
was able to give a license plate number which matched the vehicle that left the scene. Officer Lambert
followed up by making contact with the registered owner of the vehicle.
Indecent Exposure/Lewd Conduct Monday 17:37 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming was dispatched to the Scenic Overlook to assist a Dakota County Parks, Lakes and
Trails Deputy. The deputy was on foot patrol when he found two males masturbating in front of each other.
Both men denied the meeting was pre-arranged. The men were issued citations for Indecent Exposure/Lewd
Conduct in a Public Place by Officer Fleming and were trespassed from the park by the deputy.
4
Theft from Motor Vehicle Monday 20:25 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming was dispatched to a school parking lot where he met with a woman who stated she
parked her car and left to go watch a football game. While watching the game she realized she did not have
her purse and went back to her car to retrieve it. She found her car window smashed and told Officer
Fleming that she left her purse on the front seat in plain view. The purse was gone and the victim promptly
cancelled her credit cards. Unfortunately, the suspect had already used one of the credit cards to at gas
station in St. Paul. This case is under investigation.
S t o l e n L i c e n s e P l a t e W e d n e s d a y 1 2 : 4 6 h o u r s
Officer John Larrive responded to a business where a business discovered one of the two license plates on its
work truck had been stolen. They ordered new plates for the vehicle. Officer Larrive removed the remaining
plate from the vehicle and it was destroyed. The missing plate was entered as stolen.
G a s D r i v e — O f f T h u r s d a y 0 9 : 4 7 h o u r s
Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to a gas station for a gas drive-off. Officer Nelson spoke first with a
witness who stated he was filling up his company truck. He went inside to pre-pay $65 worth of gas. After he
paid he saw a male suspect pull up to pump the witness had just pre-paid and pump the $65 worth of gas into
his own vehicle. The gas station employee confirmed the witness’s story and was able to reimburse the
witness for the $65. The license plate information given by the witness and store employee belongs to a
vehicle which does not match the vehicle description given my the witness and store employee.
Found Property Thursday 20:06 hours
Officer Todd Rosse responded to a gas station where a woman’s wallet was found near the gas pumps by a
customer. Officer Rosse took the wallet which contained a driver’s license and credit cards. He made several
attempts to contact the owner but was unable to reach the owner by telephone. Approximately 45 minutes
after picking up the wallet from the gas station the wallet’s owner arrived at the Mendota Heights Police
Department. The owner said she noticed her wallet was missing and went back to the gas station where she
had last remembered using it. The gas station employee directed her to the police department. The owner
found the wallet to be fine with none of its contents missing. Case closed.
Have a safe week!
5
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.
10/17—10/23 2014 YTD
Calls for Service 124 6557
Citations 11 929
Warnings 24 779
Police Reports 14 774
Response Time Average 5.73 5.91
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.
Check out the MH Crime Map!
Click below to search your neighborhood:
https://www.raidsonline.com
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Pedestrian
Safety & Teens
Every hour, a teen
pedestrian is
injured or killed
aŌer being hit by a
car in the United
States.
In 2012, 284
pedestrians died
and another 10,000
were injured.
In a survey of 1,000
teens, 40% say they
have been hit or
almost hit by a car,
bike or motorcycle
while walking.
When asked what
happened when
they were hit or
almost hit:
24%‐Driver was
going too fast
13%‐Teen didn't
look properly
10%‐Driver wasn't
paying aƩenƟon
Teens who have
been hit or nearly
hit report:
47%‐Listening to
music
18%‐TexƟng
20%‐Talking on the
phone