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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
DECEMBER 19, 2014
While summer months are the deadliest on Minnesota roads, winterƟme
leads to the most crashes and poses safety risks and hazards.
Sãù Ý¥ ó«®½ ÊÄ ã« ÙÊ ã«®Ý ó®ÄãÙ:
Avoid unnecessary travel if condiƟons are too poor.
Buckle up, and make sure child restraints are secured Ɵghtly. It is
recommended to use bulky clothes and blankets on top of the child
restraint harness, not beneath, to ensure harness restraints fit properly.
Drive at safe speeds according to road condiƟons, and provide for
plenty of travel Ɵme.
Increase safe stopping distance between vehicles.
Use extra precauƟons when driving around snowplows by keeping at
lease five car‐lengths behind plows.
If skidding, remain calm, ease foot off the gas, and turn the steering
wheel in the direcƟon you want the front of the vehicle to go.
If vehicle has anƟ‐lock braking system (ABS), apply a steady firm
pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump ABS brakes.
Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake
lights and direcƟonal signals.
Headlights must be turned on when it is snowing or sleeƟng.
Do not use cruise control on snow/icy/wet roads.
Equip vehicle with a scraper/brush, small shovel, jumper cables, tow
chain, and a bag of sand or cat liƩer for Ɵre tracƟon. Blanket(s), heavy
boots, warm clothing, and flashlights are also important, as are storing
high‐energy foods such as chocolate and energy bars.
Be sure cell phones are charged for long trips, and inform family of
desƟnaƟon plans and schedule.
If stranded, stay in vehicle.
Parents of teen drivers should make sure new motorists experience
snow and ice driving in a safe environment, such as an empty parking
lot.
For weather‐related road condiƟon informaƟon
call 5‐1‐1 or visit www.511mn.org and download the app!
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Health and Welfare Check Friday 01:28 hours Officer Robin Nelson along with Officers Steven Meyer, Michael Shepard, and Tanner Spicer responded to a
residence on report of a female who had overdosed on prescription pills. When officers arrived they found
the female outside the residence crying. She stated that her boyfriend who was inside the home had assaulted
her multiple times. Officers found no marks on her body to indicate any domestic abuse had taken place.
Officers spoke with the woman’s boyfriend who stated he walked in on the woman trying to swallow a
handful of different kinds of pills. He said he forced them from her and called for help. Officers called
Dakota County Crisis Response Unit in order to find a place for the woman to stay for a few days and
arrangements were made.
Financial Transaction Card -Fraud Friday 09:50 hours Officer VonFeldt took a lobby report from a resident who noticed three charges on her credit card from the
United States Post Office. She later found a store charge on her credit card and later a cashier’s check which
was made out to an unknown person was mailed to the resident’s address. The Post Master General was
contacted and investigator from their agency was assigned to the case.
Prescription Forgery Friday 10:11 hours
Officer John Larrive was contacted by an RN of a pain clinic who wanted to report prescription forgery that
took place at our local Walgreens. The RN stated that the suspect went into Walgreens with a forged
prescription written on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper with the clinic name also on it. The DEA number written
came back as stolen. Under investigation.
Burglary Sunday 13:18 hours
Officer John Larrive responded to an address on an after the fact burglary. Larrive was met by the
homeowner who believes that his grandson entered into his home and stole prescription medication. He
stated he came home and noticed the house was cold so in looking around, found an open window in a
basement bedroom and a drawer open with missing medication. The suspect grandson, who showed up
uninvited on Thanksgiving, was found in that same bedroom and was asked to get out. Later, pills were
missing. With only family suspicion and investigative opportunities, the case is inactive.
Suspicious Activity Monday 09:11 hours
Officer Jeff VonFeldt spoke with a woman in the PD lobby who wished to report suspicious activity. She
noticed in the morning outside that her wood pile was knocked over resulting in some wood in her yard. She
does have an OFP out on her ex-husband but couldn't prove it was him and just wanted to have it reported.
Fraud Monday 09:26 hours
Officer Jeff VonFeldt spoke with a man who wanted to report checking account fraud. While the man was
viewing account activity on his checking account, he noticed two checks written to Cub Foods and another
written to Walgreens. In looking into this further, he looked in his checkbook and saw that the two check
numbers that were written to Cub Foods were still in his checkbook and the check number written to
Walgreens was really written to Northwestern Mutual for a payment he sent out in the mail. The bank closed
his account and he was advised to deter from putting bills in his mailbox yet bring them to a secure USPS
mailbox.
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Health and Welfare Hold Tuesday 09:24 hours
Officer John Larrive was originally dispatched to an apartment on a theft of medication report. Upon arrival,
he was met by a client who lives in the apartment and then heard a male voice yell he was in the office.
Larrive walked to the office and was met by the care provider who advised there was some missing medica-
tion. The care provider then mentioned that he was punched in the face by the client over a disagreement
with medication disbursement. The client got more agitated the longer Larrive was there and eventually came
at him. An ambulance arrived and the client was then placed on a health and welfare hold.
Warrant/DAS Wednesday 00:12 hours
While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming ran a license plate check on a vehicle parked in the gas
station parking lot. The check came back as the registered owner to having a suspended license and a warrant
out of Hennepin County for a DWI. There was no one in the vehicle so he waited a few minutes down the
road to see if the vehicles approaches him. A few minutes later, the vehicle exited the parking lot so Fleming
made a traffic stop. He made contact with the driver and asked if the vehicle was hers. She replied it was and
then added, “I know, I have a warrant.” South East Towing was called for the vehicle and the female was
asked to exit the vehicle and was transported to Dakota County Jail.
Warrant Wednesday 14:14 hours
While on routine patrol, Officer Nick Gorgos observed a male walking down the sidewalk and then into the
home of an address he knew a burglary suspect could possibly live (reference the story on page 1). The sus-
pect in question also had a felony warrant out for his arrest. The warrant description matched that of the sus-
pect he observed and Gorgos requested Officer Larrive come to the location. They knocked on the front
door and a female answered the door. Officers told her they needed to see the male suspect who had entered
the home and she quickly replied, “OK.” The male came to the door, he was informed he was under arrest
and he was transported to Dakota County Jail.
Mental Health Thursday 14:03 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming along with Officer Nick Gorgos were dispatched to a local gas station on a suspicious
person call. The caller had flagged down officers in the parking lot, informing them that yesterday he found
his roommate’s brother having sexual relations with his girlfriend at their apartment. He said he had driven
to St. Paul and then to Apple Valley and was being followed by several people the entire time. He also re-
ported his vehicle had been tampered with—loosened lug nuts, brake pads and some paneling on his vehicle .
None of the allegations appeared to be correct and then pointing out the current customers pumping gas as
the suspect who were after him. As he did not meet the mental health hold criteria, he was asked what he
wanted to do. The man requested his vehicle be towed to a dealership to have it checked out and he wanted
his boss to come pick him up. His boss arrived a short time later. Officers cleared.
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12/12‐ 12/18 2014 YTD
Calls for Service 136 7,694
Citations 12 1,026
Warnings 18 900
Police Reports 19 936
Response Time Average 4.72 5.79
Check out the MH Crime Map!
Click below to search your neighborhood:
https://www.raidsonline.com
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118
The Heart of a Child
Michael and Sarah Larsen
called MHPD on behalf of
their son Tommy, a second
grader at Mendota
Elementary.
For his September birthday
party, Tommy asked his
friends to donate money to
the family of Officer ScoƩ
Patrick instead of bringing
him birthday presents .
Tommy arrived at MHPD
wearing a big smile and his
“Star Wars” pajamas (it was
Pajama Day at school).
He presented to us a
homemade Christmas card
with $200 inside. WOW!
Thank You Tommy &
Friends, who gave so
generously! Your act of
kindness put joy back into
that hole in our hearts.
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; you can complete a form found in our
lobby, or simply give us a call and we’ll help you out.
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.
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!