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05 01 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 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 Butch Millett John Snider David Wick Frances Cuenca Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Lenny Andrie MAY 1, 2015   Historic Pilot Knob Site Mendota Heights is known for its beauƟful vistas and interesƟng scenery.  One of the best  kept secrets of our community is located at the end of Pilot Knob, near Acacia Cemetery.   There you will find winding paths, restored prairie grasslands and a Mendokowatan          MeditaƟon Circle.  It is meant for people of all ages to enjoy during the day and take in the  beauƟful view of the Mendota Bridge, Fort Snelling and the InternaƟonal Airport.    Unfortunately it seems, local teens have found this spot and claimed it for their own.  All too  oŌen police officers find large groups of kids having bonfires in the MeditaƟon Circle and  drinking under age at night.  Not only do local kids partake, but kids from all around the     metro travel here to party.  This raises some very serious issues.      Here are just two of the city ordinances that apply to this area.  7‐2‐6: OPEN BURNING  8‐4‐5: RULES OF CONDUCT   Anyone found in the park between the hours of 10pm and  6am may be cited and/or jailed.  Please be diligent when   talking to your kids about the dangers of drinking and open  fires (especially in an area surrounded by dry prairie grasses)!   Let’s keep our community and our kids safe from harm.  Historic Pilot Knob Site  Prom & GraduaƟon are exciƟng events for teens but scary for parents, in fear of consequences from poor choices involving intoxicaƟon and driving. Distracted driving is a growing problems especially with this generaƟon of technology‐proficient teens and can compound poor decision making into potenƟally fatal results. Help fears by agreeing to some safety basics: No cell phone usage when behind the wheel: It is illegal to talk on a cell phone and drive for the first 12 months aŌer geƫng your license. If you drink, call for a sober ride: Do not take a chance on killing yourself or others. In addi‐ Ɵon to that potenƟal horror, if you are under 21 you can get a DUI with any amount of alcohol in your system, lose your license for 30 to 180 days, pay a $700 fine and spend 90 days in jail. hƩps://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/laws/Pages/underage‐drinking.aspx. Make it a great end to your school year, be safe! 2 2 Theft Tuesday 10:05 hours Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a home on a suspicion call. The reporting party stated that the resident was stealing electricity by tying an extension cord from their home to the Xcel Energy owned power line. The RP stated they witnessed the homeowner the prior week, using an extension ladder to hook the power up to their cord. Lambert did observe the extension cord running to the home yet was unable to make contact with the homeowner. Case pending. Assault Tuesday 10:35 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to Friendly Hills Middle School on an assault call. It was reported that the juvenile victim had been struck by a car jack from a fellow student in class. Larrive went directly to the nurses office to check on the status of the victim. He could visibly see blood on his floor as well as his shirt, redness around the eye and cheek and a small laceration on his scalp. He stated that the student followed him into the class room, punched him a few times then hit him in the head with a car jack. Larrive then made contact with the suspect who stated that earlier in the day at the bus stop, he and the victim had a verbal altercation. The victim was allegedly calling him names and making fun of him, calling him a peanut head, resulting in his actions. The juvenile suspect was then transported to Dakota County Jail on assault charges. Theft—Tires #1 Thursday 07:41 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a home on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that when he went out to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered all four wheels had been stolen from his 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. His vehicle had been parked on his driveway and the theft had to have occurred sometime after 9:00pm the previous night. The vehicle was left jacked up and on landscape blocks. Ordinance Violation Thursday 08:47 hours Officer John Larrive received a call that someone was cutting down trees without a permit and they were landing on the city street. Larrive arrived and spoke with the male who stated he was the owner of the tree business. He stated that he was advised by the homeowner that the trees were on the homeowners property. Larrive asked the tree service owner if he was familiar with city of right of ways or easements in which he stated he was. Larrive looked up the Dakota County property records, located the trees in question and determined they were clearly on city property. Case status pending. Mental Health Thursday 22:32 hours Dispatch advised Officer Jeff VonFeldt that an adult female stated she wanted to kill herself and then left her home. Officer Shepard was able to locate the female. He found her walking out into traffic so he sat her down on the curb. The woman was crying and said she was hearing voices, seeing dead people and wanted to kill herself. Health East arrived a short time later and she was transported to the hospital on a Health & Wel- fare Hold. Theft Friday 16:45 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to the local Holiday Gas Station on a gas drive off report. Dispatch aired that the vehicle had fled towards Mendota. Officer Bobby Lambert stopped the vehicle and the male driver ran. He then called for WSPPD to assist in finding the male. There were two other occupants in the vehicle that Lambert made contact with. The vehicle was towed and a call was made to the registered owner notifying her of the incident. She stated she had borrowed her car to a male she had just met and told Lambert his name. The gas station was unable to provide video of the incident. The male was never found. 3 3 Theft Saturday 16:38 hours Officer Mike Shepard was dispatched to a home on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who advised that at sometime around 1:00am, he heard what sounded like a truck with loud exhaust in front of his house. As he went out to observe the vehicle, he said it was occupied by two white males who looked at him, accelerated, and then sped off through a stop sign. Later in the afternoon, he noticed the rear doors to his work truck were open and tools had been stolen. No suspects at this time. DWI Sunday 01:27 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming observed a vehicle pass him at a high rate of speed. Fleming followed the vehicle and noticed it swerve several times almost hitting a concrete wall. Fleming pulled the vehicle over, made contact with the driver and immediately could smell a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The driver stated he had four beers. The driver was asked to perform field sobriety tests in which he failed. He also took a PBT which revealed a .232 BAC. The vehicle was towed and the driver was placed under arrest and transported to Dakota County Jail. Theft—Tires #2 Sunday 11:11 hours Officer John Larrive was asked to call a homeowner on a theft report. He made contact with the homeowner who stated that when he went out to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered all four wheels had been stolen from his 2015 GMC Sierra. His vehicle had been parked on his driveway. The man stated that his wife heard some noise around 11:00pm but did not look outside. The vehicle was left jacked up and on landscape blocks. Drug Possession Sunday 13:18 hours While at the Holiday Gas Station for business, Officer John Larrive could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from a male in the store. Larrive approached the male and asked him if he had been smoking marijuana. He laughed at Larrive and stated he had not; however, had some in his pocket. He pulled out the small baggie and handed it to Larrive. Larrive handcuffed the male and brought him to his squad where he issued him a citation for Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana and released him. Theft—Tires #3 Monday 07:34 hours Officer Todd Rosse was dispatched to a home on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that when he went out to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered all four wheels had been stolen from his 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. His vehicle had been parked on his driveway and the theft had to have occurred sometime between 11:00pm and 5:00am. The vehicle was left jacked up and on landscape blocks. Theft—Tires #4 Monday 09:06 hours Officer Todd Rosse was dispatched to a home on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that when he went out to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered all four wheels had been stolen from his 2015 GMC Sierra. His vehicle had been parked on his driveway and the theft had to have occurred sometime between 1:00am and 6:00am. The vehicles passenger side rear door window had been smashed as well as the mounted motion light on the garage exterior. The vehicle was left jacked up and on landscape blocks. 4 4 04/24 ‐ 04/30 2015 YTD Calls for Service 111 2,134 Citations 13 185 Warnings 16 172 Police Reports 26 340 Response Time Average 5.97 5.25 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 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! What should I do if I get pulled over by a Police Officer? Pull over as soon as possible— usually to the right out of traffic and onto the shoulder if on a highway (unless an officer directs you otherwise). Leave enough room for the officer to walk up to the passenger side of your car if you are stopped on the shoulder of a highway. Put your car in “Park” and be sure to turn off your radio. Turn on the interior light if being stopped at night. Always stay in the vehicle unless directed otherwise by the officer. NEVER make a move to get out of the vehicle on your own. Roll down your window. Keep both hands where the officer can see them— preferably on the steering wheel. Do not look in your glove compartment, coat pocket or other place inside the vehicle until directed to do so by the officer. Be prepared to provide the officer with your driver’s license, the registration for the vehicle you are driving and proof of insurance.