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08 16 13 JTF1   The latest from 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 OFC. 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 It’s that time of year again! Now that you’ve purchased the school supplies and the backpacks, it’s time to discuss safety. Here is a handy checklist to start off your conversation. Personal Information 2   Intern Dan Husbands has left the building! (Hopefully with a new & improved GPS.) It was a great run with summer intern Husbands. Husbands completed his Tobacco Ordinance Project by presenting the revised Ordinance to the local City Councils. He was also a great help to the Ofϐicers and Support Staff. We wish you the best of luck on your adventure! Ofϐicer Denise Urmann received kudos from fellow Ofϐicer Steve Mey- er for her work with Night to Unite. He noted that many block party captains complimentary of her responsiveness and for running an organized event. Good job, Denise! Underage Consumption Thursday 2357 hours While on routine patrol conducting a premise check at a local motel, Officer Tanner Spicer observed three males and two females get out of a vehicle and walk into a motel room arguing. He heard the yelling escalate when suddenly the hotel room door flew open and one of the males pushed the female occupants out of the door. Spicer then separated all parties and learned that the females were arguing over one of the males. There was no assault and no inju- ries. However, there was alcohol involved; the two females, who were both under 21, failed the digital PBT so they were issued citations. Be Nice Thursday 2036 hours Officer Todd Rosse received a call on a domestic disturbance. RP stated that he and his wife, in the process of getting a divorce, had been fighting. The wife was threatening to call her hus- band’s family and employer to tell them what a bad person he was. He also said she assaulted him. The wife, when contacted, stated she did not assault him. The husband did not want to press any charges against his wife only wanted her to stop calling and texting. Case closed. Fall Friday 1149 hours Officer Bobby Lambert was dispatched to a home on a report of a fall. A man had fallen off the roof of his shed. We’re unsure what made him topple off the shed, but evidently the RP stated, “He was messed up.” He was transported to the hospital for an ankle injury. AOA - Scooter Crash Friday 1715 hours A male party was traveling westbound on Mendota Heights Road approaching the stop sign at Lexington Avenue when he just “forgot” he was supposed to stop. In a panic, he braked too hard, causing the motor scooter to fall on its side. The male had a case of road rash and was acting consistent with someone with a head injury. Medics were called but the victim refused transport and was released to his father ,who was made aware of his potential injuries, and he took custody of the scooter. False Information Saturday 1817 hours Officers Todd Rosse and Michael Shepard responded to a local senior living facility on a call of a disturbance. Apparently a woman was visiting her mother when some of the elderly women living there said she was not supposed to be there and demanded that she leave. Despite in- forming them she was visiting her mother and her mother confirming the story, they told her they did not believe her. The woman got upset and then started acting strangely, repeating state- ments like, “I’m sorry, I went too far with this joke,...” and, “You are on candid camera.” In an effort to identity the woman’s name, the behavior continued, but then she decided to give the officers a false name. She was handcuffed, trespassed from the facility for the day and transport- ed to a friend’s house, since family would not take custody of her. She was cited for giving false information to a peace officer. Evening Treat Saturday 2106 hours Officer Todd Rosse received a call from a person who was worried for the safety of six teenagers driving a golf cart without the lights on. Rosse spotted the kids on the bike path. The kids were very polite and stated they had taken the golf cart to go get some ice cream and were on their way home now. The kids were warned for driving the cart outside designated area and the kids said they would not do it again. 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. 3   Sorry, we’re fresh out of funny this week. Check in next week! Spousal Neglect Sunday 1752 hours A son came into MHPD lobby and spoke with Officer Rosse about his father’s medical welfare. He had just came from his father’s home and found father laying on blankets on the floor. His health had worsened since his last visit about a month prior and observed his father could not stand or walk. His wife cares for him while he just lays on the floor. Rosse headed to the home and knocked several times. When there was no answer, he became concerned, entered the home and observed the elderly male laying on the ground, covered in and laying on blankets. His wife was sitting next to him, but she just gave a blank stare and didn’t say a word. The man’s face was slightly drooped and he had slurred speech. His wife would not inform Officer Rosse how long he had been like that. Due to the seriousness of the situation, HealthEast was called and the male was transported to the hospital, noting he had probably had a stroke. As for his wife, witnesses saw her chase her husband around the yard with a rake about a month prior. Case was forwarded to Social Services to evaluate her competency/mental health. Naughty Boys... Sunday 1911 hours Officer Todd Rosse and Sergeant Brian Convery were dispatched by a neighbor who overheard a male yelling, “Call the police!” Upon arrival to this frequently called verbal domestic location, officers made contact with an elderly mother whose two grown sons are still living with her. The mother, intoxicated, advised there is a lot of friction between her and her son. The son gets up- set because the mother controls the money and was making veiled threats toward her. The mother said she does feel safe with him and was not in fear, just didn't like the way he talked to her and wanted him to leave for the night. He did just that and the mother was put in contact with 360 Communities in an attempt to help resolve these frequent disputes. Suspicious Person Monday 0041 hours A call came in from a homeowner who thinks someone is outside their home. RP states it sounded like someone is dragging something around. It sounded like it was coming from the south side of the home by the old garage. The homeowner’s daughter also said she heard someone talking earlier. Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded and checked around the house. He did not see anyone and nothing appeared to be disturbed. Reminiscing Monday 1753 hours Several neighbors called in stating there was a male walking down the street, staring at houses in the area. RP said it didn't appear that the man had a car in the area and he was talking to random people as he walked down the street, making the neighbors very uncomfortable. Officer Todd Rosse made contact with the man who advised he just got done cutting his mother’s lawn who lives nearby and since he grew up in the neighborhood, he was seeing if old neighbors were still around. It was legit, as several long-term residents and retired police vouched for him. Not up to “Par” Tuesday 0841 hours Officer John Larrive responded to a call to assist a PCA with an uncooperative Alzheimer pa- tient. The patient had walked away from her home and had not taken her medication. The patient was being combative, but Larrive was able to calm the patient and requested HealthEast to respond. Officer Larrive finally, after many calls to source numbers, got a hold of her hus- band. However, her husband was too busy to care for his wife, as he was in the middle of a golf game. He did ask Officer Larrive to stay with her; that was not an option, so she was transport- ed to the hospital on a welfare hold. We’re not sure of the hubby’s final golf score…. 4   If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town/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; we have similar forms in the MHPD lobby and we will take your info over the phone. 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. Hit & Run Tuesday 1138 hours Officer Larrive took a lobby call where the reporting party stated his vehicle was damaged while parked in the Mendota Plaza. The rear, passenger side of his truck was damaged. No witnesses or suspects. Civil Tuesday 1308 hours A woman came into the PD to seek guidance in getting compensation from her employer. She had spoken with the Chief already, who informed her it was civil and not a police matter, but she thought she’d get a second opinion. Officer Urmann listened to her story—evidently she no longer works there and the employer owes her compensation, not to mention they won’t return her printer, coffee maker and microwave which she brought with her to the office. She has at- tempted to make contact by phone and in person, but has been asked to leave the property. She was advised, again, to seek legal counsel in her civil matter. H&R Wednesday 1210 hours Officer Larrive responded to location where a witness had watched someone back into a vehicle and then drive away. The witness had taken photos of the incident and then followed the strik- ing car into a neighborhood. With the information provided, Officer Larrive was able to locate the suspect vehicle and approached the driver. She stated she was unaware she had hit a vehicle, but when she was shown the damage on her car, she understood and provided the necessary information. Officer Larrive is still looking for the victim/owner. Pending Fraud Thursday 1103 hours Sergeant Neil Garlock responded to the lobby on report of a fraud. Upon speaking with the hus- band and wife, he learned their sons (you may have read about them earlier) had cleaned out the family accounts to the tune of about $7K, allegedly via forgery. And, believe it or not, they moved out and so far, are nowhere to be found. Forwarded to investigations. 5   6   08/09 ‐ 08/16 2013 YTD Calls for Service 167 5,311 Citations Issued i.e., DUI, Domestic Assault, Etc. 18 972 Warnings 21 840 Police Reports 12 648 Response Time Average 5.70 5.11 Submitted By: Police Ofϐicer Steve Meyer Have a Safe Week! Daily I find I’m asked quesƟons about Minnesota’s traffic laws and what you can and can’t be cited for by law enforcement. A few of the more common quesƟons and responses are: Q: Is there a 10 day grace period for my vehicle’s tabs?   A: Yes.  Minnesota state statute 168.09 (4) states that “A vehicle registered under the monthly series system of registraƟon shall  display the plates and insignia issued within ten days of the first day of the month which commences the registraƟon period.”    Q: Is it illegal to drive with no shoes on?   A: No. There is no law that requires footwear while operaƟng a motor vehicle in Minnesota. It is recommended for safety reasons  but not required.     Q: Is there a grace for speeding?  A: Primarily No. Minnesota state statute 169.14 does not afford any grace for speed limits. Minnesota State statue 169.14.2(A)  allows for drivers overtaking (passing) another vehicle in special circumstances a ten mile an hour grace when the following cir‐ cumstance are present: Notwithstanding subdivision 2, the speed limit is increased by ten miles per hour over the posted speed  limit when the driver: (1) is on a two‐lane highway having one lane for each direcƟon of travel; (2) is on a highway with a posted  speed limit that is equal to or higher than 55 miles per hour; (3) is overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same  direcƟon of travel.  Q: Can I have passengers ride in the bed of my pickup truck?  A: No. Minnesota state statute 169.686 specifically states that the driver and all passengers of a motor vehicle must wear a  properly fastened seatbelt including a lap and shoulder belt when operaƟon on the roads. There are exempƟons for persons with  a doctor’s note, farm trucks, and other service type vehicles. All occupants must wear a seatbelt when a vehicle is in operaƟon on  Minnesota roadways.     If you have a quesƟon regarding Minnesota traffic or criminal laws please ask the police department or try the Revisor of Stat‐ utes website at: hƩps://www.revisor.mn.gov.