01 29 16 JTF
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The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
CHIEF
Mike Aschenbrener
SERGEANTS
Eric Petersen
Tanner Spicer
Peyton Fleming
Bobby Lambert
POLICE OFFICERS
John Larrive
Todd Rosse
Jeff VonFeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Nick Gorgos
Robin Nelson
Steve Hilyar
Phillip McCarty
INVESTIGATIONS
Chad Willson
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
Jennifer Fordham
SUPPORT STAFF
Kim Henning
Trista Miller
Shayna Hoechst
Becky Pentel
RESERVES
Randy Pentel
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
CHAPLAINS
Butch Millett
John Snider
Alberto Vargas
Lynn Liberman
Sue Plucker
Joel Detlefsen
Lenny Andrie
JANUARY 29 2016
It’s Not All Black and White
Police vehicles around the world are often more colorful than those in the United States. North
American police cars traditionally are known for their black and white colors. For many decades,
car doors and roofs of most police units were painted white, while the trunk, hood, front fenders,
and rear quarter panels were painted black.
These fleet vehicles typically came in a single color, most commonly white or black. The
contrasting color was added to distinguish the units from civilian vehicles.
Over the years, police and sheriffs' departments and state police agencies broadened preferred
color schemes to include a variety of colors beyond the customary black and white look and feel.
However, in recent years, many agencies returned to a more traditional black and white look for
a variety of reasons.
The history of our department started black and white, changed to all
white, and now returned to our roots with the black and white squads.
We also started with a station wagon, and the current S.U.V.’s we now
drive, have also been called the modern wagon.
In 2009, the City of Mendota Heights along with our 911 partner the Dakota
Communications Center implemented a County-wide mass notification system. This
system is designed to quickly alert the public of emergencies that may affect their
health or welfare and is capable of sending recorded messages to targeted areas
within the County at the rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. In addition to hard-wire
home phones that are already registered, residents and businesses in Dakota County
can self-register their cellular and other contact telephone numbers, along with
email addresses that they would like alerted in the event of an emergency in the
area of their Dakota County residence or business. This includes any devices in
which messages can be sent/received, including tablets, iPad’s, Video game consoles
etc.
Simply visit the website www.mn-dcc.org and go to the Community
Notification tab and create an account to start signing up devices
you would like to see emergency messages on.
We are very careful to send only important safety related messages.
You can un-enroll at any time and we do not share your information.
Please help us keep you safe.
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WINNER:
QUINN CADEM, AGE 3
RUNNER-UP:
LINNEA HAMMERQUIST, AGE 3
WINNER:
CHASE, 1ST GRADE SAC
RUNNER-UP:
ANNABELLA DRUMMER, AGE 5
WINNER:
KIARA, SAC, AGE 9
RUNNER-UP:
DELANEY SMITH, AGE 7
Thank you to everyone who participated!
We had such a great turnout this year, our
lobby is colorfully decorated.
It was not an easy decision but the
winners have been chosen. Due to the
great response of the contest, we added
runners-up.
Winner’s will receive a Certificate for Juice
and Donuts With An Officer and Runners-
Up will receive an MHPD goody-bag.
We ask that Winners and Runners-up stop
in or call the PD to claim their prize.
* 0 to 3 * * 4 to 6 * * 7 to 10 *
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BURGLARY/DOMESTIC FRIDAY 0302 HOURS
Officer Steve Hilyar responded to a home on a domestic disturbance report where a male damaged the
victims car, broke into the home, threw the victim to the ground then fled. Upon arrival, Hilyar met with
the victim who stated that she received a text from her ex-boyfriend and when she told him she was sleeping,
he didn't believe her and showed up at the home. A KOPS Alert was sent out for the suspect and he was
picked up by Brooklyn Park PD and transported to Dakota County Jail on Burglary and Domestic Assault
charges.
DISTURBING PEACE FRIDAY 1049 HOURS
Officer Robin Nelson and Sergeant Tanner Spicer were dispatched to a local business for a disturbance
regarding an ex-employee who was claiming his employer put his hands on him. Officers met with the
ex-employee who stated that his employer had wrongly accused him of theft so things got heated and he got
shoved. After speaking with the employer and several witnesses, it was determined that the employee got
terminated and so he refused to leave resulting in the disturbance. The ex-employee is no longer allowed on
the company property.
DAR SATURDAY 0004 HOURS
Officer Steve Hilyar responded to a home on a small truck that had driven off the roadway and got stuck in a
ditch in front of someone’s house. Hilyar made contact with the vehicle driver who showed no signs of
impairment however when Hilyar ran his DL, it came back as revoked. The vehicle driver was issued a
citation for Failure to Exercise Due Care (Inattentive Driving).
STOLEN PLATE SUNDAY 1948 HOURS
Officer Mike Shepard was dispatched to make phone contact with a male on a theft of license plate report.
The victim advised Shepard that as he was inside a local restaurant, someone stole his rear license plate off of
his vehicle. Shepard advised him to remove the front license plate as well, destroy it and go get new plates as
soon as possible. There are no suspects at this time and plate was entered into NCIC.
IDENTITY THEFT MONDAY 1317 HOURS
Officer John Larrive met with a victim of identity theft in the PD lobby. Victim stated that he received a bill
in the mail from Verizon for a new account opened in his name. He also received a bill from AT&T on an
account opened in his name. The victim did not authorize either of these transactions and has since made
contact with both companies to cancel the accounts.
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MENTAL HEALTH TUESDAY 0016 HOURS
Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a home on an adult female wanting to harm herself. VonFeldt arrived
and spoke with the woman who stated that she feels like she may harm herself and wants to go to the
hospital. A 72 hour mental health hold was placed on her and HealthEast responded to transport her to the
hospital.
WARRANT/FALSE INFO TUESDAY 1529 HOURS
While on routine patrol, Officer John Larrive observed a vehicle at a high rate of speed as well as turn with-
out signaling, then pull into a driveway and got out of the vehicle. Larrive conducted a traffic stop and made
contact with the vehicle driver who stated his license was revoked. Larrive then asked to ID the passenger
who gave a false name and also came back with an outstanding warrant. The driver was issued a citation for
DAR and the passenger for Giving A Peace Officer A False Name and booked on her warrant.
MENTAL HEALTH WEDNESDAY 0025 HOURS
While on routine patrol, Officer Jeff VonFeldt observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. VonFeldt
conducted a traffic stop when the driver of the vehicle jumped out and stated he needed help, that people
were after him and wanted to kill him. He didn't know who the people were and stated he has been in every
mental health hospital in the state and needs help. His wife had called while VonFeldt was with him and
told him that her husband has slowly been progressing with his illness and hasn't been taking his medication.
She was grateful VonFeldt found him and made arrangements to pick up the vehicle while the male was put
on a 72 hour mental health hold.
ACCIDENT WEDNESDAY 1837 HOURS
Officers Nick Gorgos, Michael Shepard and Sergeant Payton Fleming were dispatched to a single vehicle
accident at the intersection of Pilot Knob and Commerce Dr. Once the officers arrived and contacted the
driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, they noticed she was incoherent and was having difficulty following
instructions. Soon after, medics arrived and transported the driver to the hospital and the vehicle was towed.
FRAUD THURSDAY 1639 HOURS
Officer Michael Shepard met with a victim of fraud in the PD lobby. The victim reported that he had
recently applied for a loan through his bank in which they ran a credit report. While the victim was
reviewing his credit report he observed that it indicted an outstanding balance with Verizon wireless. The
Victim reported he has never had an account with Verizon wireless and needed a police report in order to
receive any further information from Verizon about the account.
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01/22 - 01/28 2016 YTD
Calls for Service 117 574
Citations 11 69
Warnings 24 76
Police Reports 24 81
Response Time Average 4.44 4.85
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 or email
jennyf@mendota-heights.com to contact Officer 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!
Our newest Police Support
Specialist, Shayna Hoechst.
Shayna joined MHPD on
January 11th, 2016.
Shayna has a background
in Office Management and
working in the legal field.
She graduated from
Minnesota State University
-Mankato with a degree in
Human Resource
Management.
She is a long time resident
of Mendota Heights which
is what drew her to the
position.
Shayna is driven and
excited to be a part of the
team.