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01 16 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 Peyton Fleming Nick Gorgos Robin Nelson 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 Frances Cuenca Joel Detlefsen Lynn Liberman Butch Millett Sue Plucker John Snider David Wick JANUARY 16, 2015 A “Clear” View Fuzzy dice, air fresheners, and stuffed animals may dress up the inside of your vehicle, but did you know that in Minnesota it is illegal to operate a vehicle with objects of any kind hanging from the rear view mirror? According to Minnesota statute, any object suspended between the driver and the windshield is illegal. The only exceptions are sun visors, rear view mirrors and toll collection devices. In addition, it’s illegal to operate a vehicle with a cracked or discolored windshield, if it limits or obstructs proper vision. With frosty days upon us, remember that operating a vehicle with a frost-covered windshield is also illegal. Motorists in a hurry often scrape the snow and ice from only a small portion of the windshield and use this “porthole” to drive. This practice is not only dangerous, but may also earn you a traffic citation. Remember, the most important function of your windshield is to allow you to navigate safely, so find another place for the fuzzy dice, fix your windshield if it’s cracked or discolored, and during the winter months, always keep an ice scraper in your car! Children are curious liƩle beings especially when it comes to medicaƟon. Most children’s medicine look and taste good like candy which can be scary. MedicaƟons are the leading cause of child poisoning. In 2011, 67,000 children were seen in emergency rooms for medicaƟon poisoning. That is one child every eight hours. Most cases were because a child got into medicaƟons while unsupervised. Put all medicines up and away and out of sight including your own. Consider products you may not typically consider a medicaƟon to be put up and away like diaper rash creams, vitamins, eye drops, etc. Take the Ɵme to read medicaƟon labels. Use the dosing device that comes with the medicaƟon. Proper dosing is important, kitchen spoons are not all the same. Keep all medicines in their original packaging and containers. Close medicine caps Ɵghtly aŌer each use. Choose child‐resistant caps but remember, child‐resistant does not mean child‐proof. Communicate clearly the dosage and Ɵmes medicaƟon is needed for your child if another person will be responsible for them. Be alert as to where medicine is stored in other peoples homes that your child may visit. Talk with your children about medicaƟon safety. To dispose of medicine yourself, pour it in a sealable plasƟc bag then add kiƩy liƩer, sawdust or coffee grounds to make it less appealing to children and pets. If it is a pill, add water to it to dissolve it. To assure a safe disposal, MHPD offers a medicaƟon disposal box as do other police departments in Dakota County, see page 6 of Just The Facts. Put the toll‐free Poison Help Number into your cell phone and post up in your home where every family member including babysiƩers can see. 1‐800‐222‐1222. If your child collapses or is not breathing, call 911! 2 2 Theft Thursday 09:08 hours Officer Todd Rosse was dispatched to call a resident regarding a theft that had taken place. In speaking with the victim, she stated that sometime in the past several weeks, someone had stolen one garbage can and one recycling can from their yard. She stated that she had recently changed garbage service companies so thought that maybe the old garbage service had came and picked them up but when she called them, they advised her that they had not and should file a police report. No suspects. Case inactive. AOA Friday 01:13 hours Officers Nick Gorgos, Robin Nelson and Denise Urmann were called to assist State Patrol with an auto accident that had just occurred on eastbound Interstate 494 in Eagan. As officers arrived on scene, they noticed a State Patrol vehicle had been struck by a pick-up truck and was blocking lanes of travel. Officers assisted where needed then cleared the scene. Unwanted Communication Saturday 09:25 hours Officer Bobby Lambert spoke with a woman in reference to two unwanted text messages that her juvenile daughter received on her cell phone. The juvenile deleted the first one she received then brought the second to her parents to read. The content of the text message was inappropriate in nature and came back to an area code out of Texas. The parents of the child then changed their daughter’s cell phone number. The next day she received another inappropriate text message to her new phone number from an area code out of Mississippi. Officer Lambert advised them to notify their phone carrier to get the phone numbers blocked as well as possibly take away the text message feature on the phone. Theft Sunday 16:41 hours Officer Nick Gorgos responded to the local Walgreen’s on a theft call. He was met by the reporting party, an employee of Walgreen’s, who stated a white male approximately 50-60 years of age, 6 foot tall wearing a bright yellow jacket, a hat and glasses, took several items and did not pay for them. The value of the items stolen were approximately $170.00. Surveillance was able to capture the thief in action, walk out the front door, then take off in a light blue mini van. Under investigation. Theft Sunday 20:04 hours Officer Nick Gorgos was advised to call complainant regarding a theft. In speaking with the woman, she said she was in the process of working on her living will and in deciding what pieces of jewelry to give her children, went to her safe that was located in her closet to notice two pieces of jewelry missing. The woman stated she is the only person who knows the code to the safe. The key to the safe was kept on a shelf and the cleaning staff have access to the area it is kept. The three cleaning ladies come every two weeks. Under investigation. Theft Monday 12:21 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a local hotel on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the hotel manager who stated that over night, the locked storage shed had been broken into. The suspect stole a snow blower. Video surveillance was unobtainable and there are no suspects. Case inactive. 3 3 Robbery Tuesday 10:44 hours Officers Bobby Lambert and John Larrive responded to an armed robbery at a local bar. Employees reported that two males dressed in black ski masks, black coats, and blue jeans entered an unlocked door and approached one of the employees who was sitting in the office counting cash at her desk. They held a baseball bat towards her and ordered her not to move. The suspects began taking the cash which she was counting along with money from a nearby open safe. The suspects fled in vehicle. Officers checked the surrounding area for the suspects but did not locate anyone matching the description given by a witness. This case is under investigation. Theft of Mail Tuesday 08:45 hours Officer Bobby Lambert took a theft of mail report from a resident who stated that an unknown amount of mail was stolen from her mailbox sometime around the holidays. She realized mail had been stolen when a company she had do work for her called asking for payment and she stated she never received an invoice. The company stated they mailed an invoice to her however she never received it. She later found out that a gift had been mailed to her by a relative which she also never received. Officer Lambert advised her to purchase a securable mailbox and to watch for suspicious activity on her accounts. There is no suspect information and the case is inactive at this time. Credit Card Fraud Wednesday 12:54 hours Officer Bobby Lambert met with residents in the Mendota Heights Police Department lobby regarding a fraudulent purchase made on the victim’s credit card. The woman noticed an unauthorized charge on her credit card statement and when she called the credit card company they explained that the purchase was made with her card number but that it was delivered to a different address. The company would not provide the address to which the item was delivered. The resident wished to file a report so that the police would be able to obtain suspect information. This case is currently under investigation. Possession of Stolen Property Thursday 14:28 hours Officer Larrive was dispatched to a business location on a report of a man who purchased a cell phone but then discovered that it was stolen. Officer Larrive contacted the individual who had sold the cell phone to the victim. The suspect told police that he had purchased the cell phone off of Craigslist a week ago and knew it had been blacklisted by one phone carrier but could activate it using a different carrier. He sold the phone knowing it was stolen property and was issued a citation by Officer Larrive for Possession of Stolen Property. Have a safe week! 4 4 5 5 6 6 01/09—01/15 2015 YTD Calls for Service 99 257 Citations 3 13 Warnings 8 13 Police Reports 17 47 Response Time Average 6.14 5.77 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Neighborhood Safety Take a Bite out of Crime Keep doors and windows locked. Never open the door to someone you don’t know. Use automaƟc Ɵmers to turn on lights why you are not home. Don’t leave a spare key under the doormat or in your mailbox. Get to know your neighbors so you can work together and look out for each other if there is suspicious acƟvity in your neighborhood. ParƟcipate in a neighborhood watch to prevent crime and discourage criminals from spending Ɵme on your block. Call 9‐1‐1 to report any suspicious acƟvity or persons in your neighborhood. 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!