Loading...
05 22 15 JTF1 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming POLICE OFFICERS Jerry Murphy John Larrive Bobby Lambert Todd Rosse Jeff Vonfeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Nick Gorgos Robin Nelson Steve Hilyar 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 CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Lenny Andrie MAY 22, 2015   Driving Without Shoes On When we think about the last Monday in the month of May we think about Memorial Day. Memorial Day is more then a day away from work spent; camping, grilling, and enjoying the hopefully blissful weather. Memorial day was originally named DecoraƟon Day, it originated aŌer the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. Fast forward to modern day, Memorial Day is intended to pay honor and respects to those who have died in military service. Placing American flags at the resƟng place of our fallen heroes has become common pracƟce within naƟonal cemeteries, as a way to pay homage and humility to the men and women who gave so much to ensure our freedoms. With Summer approaching (well maybe), I was asked by someone last week, “Is it illegal to drive without shoes on?” AŌer explaining to this person that for safety reasons it would be best to drive with shoes on, I had to tell this person that there is no law prohibiƟng a driver from driving barefoot. This is one of the few traffic laws every state agrees upon. Shoes are not required to operate a vehicle. Every state permits barefoot driving. There are no laws or ordinances prohibiƟng hiƫng the gas and brake pedals with naked feet, resulƟng, if caught, in a traffic Ɵcket and/or citaƟon. The closest law prohibiƟng barefoot driving comes from Alabama, which states: "OperaƟon of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permiƩed. ExcepƟon: motorcycle rider." Lawmakers in Ohio, Wyoming, Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana allow barefoot driving but recommend against it, ciƟng this pracƟce as unsafe, a car crash waiƟng to happen. The choice is yours. Drive however you see fit. As long as you pracƟce safe driving habits, it does not maƩer if you're wearing shoes, flip‐flops, or barefoot. May 25th, 2015 2 2 Found Property Friday 17:15 hours Sgt. Peyton Fleming was dispatched to Valley Park for found property. A resident met Sgt. Fleming at the park and stated that a woman who was hunting mushrooms found a metal box which contained several sets of keys inside it. In another area of the park checkbooks and miscellaneous papers were found which were returned to the property owner. The property owner stated Inver Grove Heights is investigating a burglary in which the owner of this found property was the victim. This case is under investigation. Found Property Friday 15:38 hours Officer Rosse responded to a found property call at a residence. Resident states she found a license plate near the edge of her property. Upon investigation it was learned that the license plate was reported to be involved in a gas drive-off the previous day. A phone number for the registered owner was located but the number was disconnected. It is believed the license plate was either stolen or found and used for the gasoline theft and then discarded. Case remains under investigation pending contact with owner. Fraud Saturday 13:04 hours Officer Todd Rosse took a report from a resident who reported that she currently has her home for sale and has learned that someone has an online advertisement that states the home is for rent. The source of the online ad was unknown. Further checks by Officer Rosse resulted in a negative search so perhaps the ad was removed. No further information regarding the advertisement at this time. Fraud Saturday 18:26 hours Officers Steve Hilyar and Nicholas Gorgos were dispatched to take a report on a suspicious telephone call a resident received. The caller left the resident a voicemail stating that he was from the Crime Investigation Unit of the Internal Revenue Service. A check on the phone number given shows it as belonging to someone in Seattle, WA. As a reminder to all residents do not give personal or financial information over the phone to unknown callers . This is not the way government agencies including the IRS, FBI and law enforcement do business. Property Damage Accident Monday 06:12 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to a property damage accident. Two drivers were standing outside their vehicles when Officer Urmann arrived. No injuries to either driver had occurred. One of the driver’s reported that he pulled out of a parking lot on to the road in an attempt to cross the road but did not see the oncoming vehicle. Drivers exchanged insurance information and one driver was cited with failure to yield right of way. Damage to Property Monday 17:35 hours Officers Steve Hilyar and Nick Gorgos took a damage to property report from a local church. Church employee reported that an unknown suspect drove a vehicle on the church lawn creating ruts and punctured all four tires on the riding lawn mower. Extra patrol has been provided and there are no suspects at this time. 3 3 Suspicious Person Tuesday 17:03 hours Officers Steve Hilyar and Nick Gorgos received a call to respond to the high school on an unknown male taking photos of the boys’ tennis team practice. The unknown male was gone upon officers arrival but a license plate number of the car the male was driving was provided to police. This case is currently under investigation. Found Property Tuesday 12:00 hours Sgt. Fleming received a set of keys found at Hagstrom-King park which was turned into the police department. Keys are being kept at the police department and hopefully will be returned to the owner. Missing Person Thursday 07:40 hours Officer Lambert responded to a residence to take a missing persons report. A mother reported that her adult son who suffers from depression left the home with her vehicle and later received a text which indicated suicidal thoughts. Case remains under investigation. Mental Health Crisis Thursday 18:30 hours Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to a senior living residence where one resident had assaulted another resident. Upon arrival Officer Nelson found that there were no apparent injuries on the victim. The suspect resident does have a history of mental health issues and violence towards people. The suspect was voluntarily transported to the hospital for a mental health hold. First Degree Assault Thursday 16:03 hours Mendota Heights officers responded to assist the West Saint Paul Police Department with a call of a shooting victim needing help at a West Saint Paul gas station. The victim, with non-life threatening wounds, was located and advised officers that the shooting took place at a an address in Mendota Heights. The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment and was released. Multiple suspects were reportedly involved in the shooting; two involved people turned themselves in at the Mendota Heights Police Department. St. Paul Police apprehended additional suspects in St. Paul. The involved parties all knew each other before today’s events. The public is not in danger at this time . The Dakota County Attorney’s Office is expected to charge the suspects Friday or Tuesday. This case remains under investigation. Have a Safe Week! 4 4 05/15 ‐ 05/21 2015 YTD Calls for Service 132 2625 Citations 7 212 Warnings 15 236 Police Reports 24 426 Response Time Average 6.68 5.32 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 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! In ancient Rome May used to be the third month in every year. May has always had 31 days. Charles Lindbergh finish 1st transatlanƟc solo flight. (May 21, 1927) South Carolina became the 8th state. (May 23, 1788) ConsƟtuƟonal ConvenƟon opened in Philadelphia with George Washington as president. (May 25, 1787) Fun facts!