05 10 13 JTF05/10/2013
The Mendota
Heights Police
Department
Support Staff
Kim Henning
Susan Donovan
Trista Miller
Becky Pentel
Police Officers
Jerry Murphy
Scott Patrick
John Larrive
Bobby Lambert
Tanner Spicer
Todd Rosse
Chad Willson
Jeff VonFeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Peyton Fleming
School Resource Officer
Jennifer Fordham
Investigations
Mario Reyes
Chad Willson
Sergeants
Neil Garlock
Brian Convery
Eric Petersen
Reserves
Randy Pentel
Jarrod Spicer
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
George Castillo
Chaplains
Frances Cuenca
Joel Detlefsen
Lynn Liberman
Butch Millett
Sue Plucker
John Snider
David Wick
Chief
Mike Aschenbrener
National Police Week: May 13 – May 18,2013
Peace Officer’s Memorial Day: May 15, 2013
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating
May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that
date falls as Police Week. The City of Mendota Heights adopted a
resolution on Tuesday night making May 13 – 18, 2013 National Police
Week. It’s a week intended to pay special homage to honor and
support those who walk and survivors of those who have walked “the
thin blue line.”
If you have a moment; thank an officer for what they do. Each year
about 140 Police Officers die feloniously in the line of duty; in 2013, 40
Officers died in the line of duty. This year, MHPD is holding a daytime
and a nighttime BBQ fundraiser, accepting donations toward the MN
Law Enforcement Association, www.mnlema.org and the National Law
Enforcement Memorial Association, www.nleomf.com. Both
associations work to honor the Police Officers who have died in the
line of duty and to support the families of the officers who have made
the ultimate sacrifice.
If you wish to donate you may send a check made out to the state or
national association and we’ll forward them along, with a note of
appreciation from the MHPD. You can also check out the MN chapter
of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) site for more local
information and links to other resources at http://mncops.org/
What is…The Thin Blue Line?
Essentially there are three meanings.
1. The thin blue line represents the thin line Police Officers walk daily
between life and death.
2. The thin blue line represents the police officer’s role of separating
the good from the bad while creating order from chaos.
3. The thin blue line on black is a memorial, a connection or a
memory between Officers killed in the line of Duty and those who
continue with their duties in the present
“Just the Facts”
The latest news from the Mendota Heights Police Department
05/10/2013
911 for All
The Mendota Heights Police & Fire Department along with all other Police/Fire/Ambulance
providers ask that you join us in utilizing 911 for All, which encourages residents who want
to provide information or need to request service, even non‐emergency service, from their
police department, fire department or ambulance service, to always call 9‐1‐1.
It is much easier to remember 911 than multiple phone numbers for police, fire and
ambulance, and thanks to technology, most call types can be most easily handled via 9‐1‐1.
Dial 911 when you:
Observe suspicious activity
Witness an accident, fire or a crime
Need an ambulance
Have items stolen from your car or home
Smell a possible natural gas leak
Have a Parking complaint
Encounter any incident that may require police, fire &/or ambulance response.
The Dakota Communications Center (DCC) was created in 2005 by a Joint Powers
Agreement formed of the eleven cities in Dakota County and the County itself. Dakota
Communications Center is a state of the art 9‐1‐1 dispatch center that provides responsive
and exceptional service to those who live, work, and visit the communities that make up
Dakota County. Visit http://www.mn‐dcc.org/ for much more helpful info.
Domestic Thursday 1414 hours
Officers John Larrive and Bobby Lambert responded to a 911 call for help where the caller stated her
husband was out of control. A friend had come with the wife to be present while visiting her son, since
things were already rocky between her and her husband. The husband got verbally and physically
assaultive with the friend, and when the wife tried to call 911 multiple times, he hung up the phone and
interrupted the call for help. Officers arrived on scene and learned the family was going a divorce and
emotions were escalating. Male party was arrested on GM interference with 911 call and 5th Degree
assault and transported to the Dakota County Jail.
Bicyclist v Delivery Truck Thursday 1649 hours
911 cell phone caller reported seeing a bicyclist being struck by a delivery truck, but couldn’t tell the
dispatcher the location of the crash. When calling 911, please know where you are. Officer Shepard and
Sgt Petersen had to search for the crash. The State Patrol wrote the accident and HealthEast Paramedics
provided first aid for a serious leg injury.
Driving complaint Thursday 2026 hours
Residents called to report juveniles riding around town on the hood of a Toyota Corolla, no color given.
Officer Todd Rosse responded to the area and located several Corollas, only one was occupied by two
young ladies. They denied racing around the area and allowing anyone to ride on the hood of the car.
Both were warned anyway.
Frequent Flyer check‐in Friday 1528 hours
Officer John Larrive responded to a residential alarm. The homeowner was present at the call and told
Officer Larrive that the wrong code was entered. The caller helpfully added, ‘as long as you are here,
the people living in the attic have been quiet the past two days and the dog is happy because he just got
back from the spa….’
05/10/2013
Suspicious Activity Friday 2244 hours
Officer Todd Rosse was waved down by a business employee who reported something suspicious that
happened 7 hours earlier. “If you see something…say something!” The caller reported two men in
hooded sweatshirts that carried something into the woods and then left in a sedan. Officer Rosse
tracked footprints into a swampy area but was not able to locate anything suspicious.
AOA/Crash/DUI Saturday 0112 hours
The DCC relayed a report of man who had crashed but had no idea of his location, but he did say he hit a
pole and his car didn't work. With dispatch assistance, Officer Fleming soon located the crashed car on
Hwy 13 just west of Lexington Avenue. As he approached he could see that the car had heavy front‐end
damage and the airbags were deployed inside of the car. The man was not hurt but it was obvious he
was intoxicated. The man had been drinking in Eagan, struck a power pole in Mendota Heights and was
headed home in Apple Valley. The driver failed all SFST’s, was arrested, read the implied consent and
agreed to a blood test which HealthEast paramedic drew for the officers. The car was towed by
Southeast Towing and the man would wake up at Ramsey County detox in the morning. Case pending
results of blood test. So then, on his way back into town….
Crash/DUI/Deja Vu Saturday 0301 hours
… just a short drive up the road from the last power pole crash, Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a
car v power pole (and a mailbox) with yet another intoxicated driver and heavy front end damage once
again. This gentleman had been drinking in Burnsville, was headed home to Shakopee, bought a power
pole in Mendota Heights and would wake up at Ramsey detox in St. Paul. He also failed all SFST's, was
read the implied consent advisory, and after being checked by paramedics, he too consented to a blood
draw. Vehicle was towed to Southeast, Excel energy was notified about their power pole and the man
was transported along with his tickets to detox. Maybe he can swap stories with the other suspect!
Dangerous Dog Saturday 2115 hours
Caller reported her mother had just come back from walking the dog and was knocked down when
another dog attacked her dog. The mom really wasn’t aware of where the dog had come from. Officer
Peyton Fleming checked possible locations for the dog and eventually, through talking with other
residents, was able to figure out the dog’s residence. Parties made civil arrangements and Potentially
Dangerous Dog paperwork will be filed.
Juvenile Compliant Saturday 2156 hours
Caller reported his neighbors were hosting a juvenile party, there was a car parked in front of the house
but the kids weren’t getting out to go into the party. When the caller checked the kids, they were
smoking a bong most commonly used for marijuana. The car immediately fled the area when they were
spotted. Sgt Convery checked the area without success; the information was relayed to the overnight
officers.
Juvenile Party Aftermath Sunday 1020 hours
Sgt Brian Convery spotted two young men as they crouched behind a car in the street. They weren’t
stealing anything, they were simply just hiding their booze. The two underage parties had left a house
party and blew over on the PBT and two other young people were spotted walking away from the area.
The minors were turned over to their parents and the “adults” who were under 21 were cited and left
with a friend in the area.
Juvenile Party Aftermath Monday 1413 hours
Officer Scott Patrick handled a phone call from a young lady who had attended a party on Saturday night
and had used her phone to play music. Sometime before midnight the phone went missing as did two
other young ladies’ phones and another friend lost her boots. (Really? You need to steal someone’s
shoes?) The victim reported there were about 50 kids at the party from a bunch of different schools.
Forwarded to investigations for follow‐up.
05/10/2013
AOA Monday 1038 hours
Sergeant Neil Garlock, Officers Jen Fordham, John Larrive and Scott Patrick responded to assist with
evacuating the middle school while the HVAC air handlers were restarted. The system allowed some gas
to enter the building. The kids were given some time in the sunshine. The staff quickly corrected the
problem; HealthEast medics assisted with any kids who didn’t feel well and MHFD used their monitoring
equipment to verify there was no longer any gas in the air. We assisted with traffic control and access
for parents. Clear a short time later.
Motorboats Monday 1320 hours
A resident called to report a motorized boat on Rogers Lake. Officers Peyton Fleming and Steve Meyer
responded to the call. It was learned a short time later that the DNR would be netting fish on the lake
over the next few weeks.
Raccoon on the roof Monday 1618 hours
Caller reported for the second day in a row that there was a raccoon on the roof of the garage. Officer
Peyton Fleming arrived to learn the sick raccoon had run off. Several options were provided to the
homeowner as it is likely the varmint lives in the garage.
Window Peeper Tuesday 0209 hours
Alarm went off at the home of a frequent flyer. Officer Denise Urmann arrived and was met by the
resident. The woman patiently explained that the alarm went off because the man who lives in her attic
did it. (Attic Man is at it again!) As Officer Denise Urmann was leaving the home she was flagged down
by the neighbors who stated they saw the shadow of someone peeping in their windows. They believe it
was the person whose alarm went off but they didn't see any other activity.
Suspicious Activity Tuesday 1549 hours
Officer Scott Patrick along with Sergeant Neil Garlock responded to a report of what appeared to be a
grave alongside a walking trail. The officers arrived and found a pile of dirt alongside the road that
would be consistent in size with a grave. Officer Patrick went and got a shovel and they dug up the pile
of dirt and found nothing but grass and roots. It appears someone with a pickup truck had backed up
along the trail unloaded dirt out roughly enough to cover the bed of a pickup truck alongside of the trail
creating the appearance of a fresh grave. Nothing found.
DAR Tuesday 2210 hours
Officer Mike Shepard spotted a vehicle stop by the side of the road in a strange place. In checking that
vehicle he found the driver pulled over to scratch off some lottery tickets. Unfortunately a quick check
of his driver's license showed the man was revoked and had not appeared for court six times since
January of 2011. Even if he was going to win with the lottery tickets it was not likely that a trip to the
Dakota County would constitute luck. Hopefully he won enough to cover some of those fines! Suspect
cited and booked into jail.
Gas Theft Wednesday 1320 hours
Sergeant Neil Garlock responded to a complaint of a thief parked at the gas pumps at a local station.
The employee recognized this thief from a previous gas drive off and called 911. While the employee
was on the phone with the dispatchers the thieves, young ladies, were busy screaming obscenities at
them from the gas pump. The young ladies did manage to get $12.73 for the pumped gas before they
fled, but the employee obtained the license plate number and a good description of the suspect’s
vehicle. They headed out of the station the wrong way, turning around and driving past the station
again to head south on I35E. Sergeant Garlock caught the vehicle in the city of Eagan and learned the
driver was revoked, there was no insurance and the truck was full of stolen gas (stolen by the juvenile
passenger). Citations were issued to both parties and the vehicle was towed.
Have a great weekend!