02 05 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
FEBRUARY 05 2016
SUPERB WL—DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
It’s that Ɵme of year and Super Bowl 50 is fast approaching. There has been a long Ɵme myth that
seems to come up this Ɵme of year that during the Super Bowl, incidents of domesƟc violence
increase significantly. It’s likely this myth resulted from football being considered one of the more
violent sports, and large male audience combined with alcohol consumpƟon resulted in men taking
their aggressions out on their spouse. However staƟsƟcs do not back this myth up.
According to a press release from the Equal JusƟce FoundaƟon, the myth started at a January 1993
press conference held prior to the 1993 Super Bowl. Los Angeles County Supervisor and former State
Senator Sheila Kuehl stated the Super Bowl was “The biggest day of the year for violence against
women” and a “Day of dread.” Kuehl, part of a feminist group at the Ɵme, stated that forty percent
more women were vicƟms of domesƟc violence than normal. There was no basis for the claim and it
was not backed up with any data. AŌer the press conference it was picked up by other media outlets
and began to spread. This myth conƟnued unƟl a reporter tracked down the researcher cited in the
press conference who stated that the informaƟon they provided was misrepresented.
Despite all the facts debunking the myth, it conƟnues to be talked about today. So now, you know,
as I again aƩempt to set the record straight.
The Minnesota CoaliƟon for BaƩered Women (MCBW) tracks homicides in which the known or
suspected perpetrator was a current or former inƟmate partner or the homicide is the result
of domesƟc violence between current or former inƟmate partners. This includes family
members, friends, and interveners who are killed as a result of the domesƟc violence being
perpetrated by a current or former inƟmate partner.
For over 25 years, MCBW has been producing the annual “Femicide” Report. The reports list
the number of people killed; however, they do not reveal the enormous number of people
impacted by those deaths, nor do the reports reflect the hundreds of thousands of
individuals who, across these years, have experienced domesƟc violence and survived.
The number of Minnesotans killed due to domesƟc violence varies from year to year. Last
year 34 Minnesotans were killed due to violence from a current or former inƟmate partner.
2015 OVERVIEW:
At least 22 women were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted
perpetrator was a current or former husband, boyfriend, or male inƟmate partner.
At least 9 friends, family members or interveners were murdered in domesƟc
violence‐related situaƟons.
At least 3 men were murdered in a case where the suspected, alleged, or convicted
perpetrator was a current or former inƟmate partner.
At least 17 minor children were leŌ motherless due to domesƟc violence murders.
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ACCIDENT/DAR WEDNESDAY 0505 HOURS
Officer Phil McCarty responded to an accident where injuries were reported, but the driver was refusing an
ambulance. Upon arrival, he noticed one vehicle in the intersection and one parked on the shoulder. The
driver of the vehicle in the intersection stated he was rear-ended while stopped at a stop sign. Upon
approaching the striking vehicle, the driver handed him her MN ID card (not a DL) and proof of insurance,
informing him she was suspended. She stated she had looked down to grab something in her car, and when
she looked back up it was too late to stop and she struck the other vehicle. Upon running her ID, Officer
McCarty found she was actually revoked and the plates were revoked as well. Both vehicles were towed, but
not before the revoked plates were removed. The revoked driver was cited for Displaying Revoked Plates,
Failure to Drive with Due Care and Driving After Revocation. Neither driver wanted medical care on scene.
Officer cleared.
ACCIDENT WEDNESDAY 0923 HOURS
Officer Nick Gorgos and Mike Shepard, along with Sergeant Peyton Fleming responded to a report of a
single car accident with injuries. Upon arrival they found the confused and disoriented driver, who stated
she had been on her way to work but had no memory of what happened. Her windshield was the only part of
the vehicle that sustained damage, and while officers initially thought she struck a sign, no property damage
was found. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance and officers cleared.
CHECK WELFARE WEDNESDAY 0925 HOURS
Officers were asked to check the welfare of a suicidal male whose phone has been pinged within a
neighborhood. The area was searched by Officers McCarty, Shepard and Jeffory VonFeldt, but the subject
was not located. Officers worked with the reporting party and other agencies to locate the subject, and put
out an ATL alert, but at the time of this publication, the subject has not been located.
FRAUD WEDNESDAY 1837 HOURS
Victim reported to Officer Shepard that his credit card was used fraudulently via the internet. He simply
wanted a case number for his insurance company; he had suffered no financial loss. Nothing further.
SHOPLIFTING WEDNESDAY 1100 HOURS
Officer Robin Nelson responded to a local business on report of a theft of several phone chargers. The
surveillance footage shows a female suspect taking the items and putting them her purse. Suspect
information and leads were followed up on but unsuccessful. Case Inactive.
IDENTITY THEFT THURSDAY 1639 HOURS
Officer Mike Shepard took a lobby report from a resident reporting identity theft. The victim reported he
had applied for a loan and discovered an outstanding balance with Verizon, even though he never initiated
the account. The account was 1 1/2 years old. Victim needed a case number for Verizon to take further
action. Suspect information not available, case inactive.
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DISTURB PEACE/PROPERTY DAMAGE SATURDAY 2303 HOURS
Officer responded to a report of an intoxicated female who had thrown a bottle and struck a windshield.
Upon arrival, Officer VonFeldt, along with McCarty and Sergeant Fleming, quickly located the female and
found she was clearly intoxicated and upset over some personal issues and threw a bottle, which struck a
vehicle. While viewing the damage to the vehicle, the owner was spoken to. He informed officers he did
not wish to pursue charges and wished to work it out civilly between them. The parties exchanged
information and after arranging for a sober driver for the female, everyone cleared the scene.
WARRANT SERVICE SUNDAY 0158 HOURS
While on patrol, Officer McCarty ran a plate inquiry and found the registered owner had a warrant for Fail-
ure to Appear. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as the registered owner. He was placed
under arrest, while still holding his newly purchased cigar and chips. The owner told the officer he did not
want him entering his car, so they were placed on top of the car. After being transported and processed for
the warrant, the suspect found his money to pay the bond was not in his wallet, but still in his car. The
handcuffed suspect was taken back to the car and told Officer McCarty to unlock it for him and where to
search for it. The money was found, but was not enough to satisfy the bond. He was escorted to jail for the
warrant.
IDENTITY THEFT SUNDAY 1718 HOURS
A resident came into the lobby to report that his wallet had been lost and a credit card used. Officer Gorgos
met with the owner and learned he thought he had left it on the counter at store and when he returned it
was gone. Transaction information was obtained for follow-up. The next day, the owner called to inform
Officer Gorgos the wallet was found and transaction information was accounted for. Case Unfounded.
AUTO THEFT TUESDAY 0958 HOURS
A homeowner went outside to find their vehicle had been stolen. It had been left unlocked in the driveway
with the keys inside. Officer John Larrive took the report and he and Officer Todd Rosse took several
related reports came in from the same neighborhood of cars being rummaged through and small items and
change being stolen. Case under investigation.
ACCIDENT/DAS TUESDAY 1257 HOURS
Officer Larrive responded to three car accident that occurred when a bus got stuck and conditions were
slippery. While trying to stop, one vehicle rear ended the car in front of him, which then struck the vehicle
stopped behind the bus. One driver was found to have a suspended DL and was issued a citation.
SLUMPER/AOA TUESDAY 0525 HOURS
Officers McCarty and VonFeldt responded to assist MN State Patrol with a possible slumper. Officer
VonFeldt located the vehicle and upon approaching the vehicle and knocking on the window to get his
attention, the driver awoke, saw the officer and when asked to roll down his window, the sleepy man began
to drive. Officer VonFeldt followed him with light and sirens and watched as the driver stopped in the
middle of an intersection, causing traffic to stop (thankfully) and then meandered on to a stop at the next
intersection. The driver was ordered out of the vehicle and making contact with him it became clear he was
under the influence of alcohol. He was turned over to MSP for processing. Officer VonFeldt cleared.
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REMOVAL OF SNOW, ICE,
DIRT AND RUBBISH FROM
SIDEWALK
ORDINANCE 8‐1‐2:
A. AccumulaƟons Prohibited;
Nuisance Declared:
All snow, ice, dirt, and
rubbish remaining on a
public sidewalk more than
twenty four (24) hours aŌer
its deposit thereon is hereby
determined to be a public
nuisance1. The owner and
the occupant of any
property adjacent to a
public sidewalk shall use due
diligence to keep such walk
safe for pedestrians. No
such owner or occupant
shall allow snow, ice, dirt or
rubbish to remain on the
walk longer than twenty
four (24) hours aŌer its
deposit thereon.
(1981 Code 701 § 2)
01/29 ‐ 02/04 2016 YTD
Calls for Service 148 722
Citations 11 78
Warnings 20 96
Police Reports 17 78
Response Time Average 4.43 4.76
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 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!