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01 03 14 JTF1        The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Becky Pentel POLICE OFFICERS Jerry Murphy Scott Patrick John Larrive Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer Todd Rosse 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 Jim Knox Jeff Parker George Castillo CHAPLAINS Frances Cuenca Joel Detlefsen Lynn Liberman Butch Millett Sue Plucker John Snider David Wick CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener JANUARY 3, 2014 Submitted by: Ofϐicer Steve Meyer Where’s the address?  I write this as the winter holidays are in full swing. As I patrol the neighborhoods and respond to routine and emergency calls for service, I have found a trend that both bothers me and delays the necessary services I provide. Many residents decorate for the winter holidays with outside decorations and lights, spreading holiday cheer—I like it, I get it, I am not a Grinch. However, from the perspective of a police officer, my concern is when your holiday décor covers up important things like your address numbers an it makes my job harder, slows down my response time when seconds count. The city has an enforceable: City Code 12-8-3 which requires you to have numbers clearly visible from the street! It is my hope is that citizens be aware of where their address numbers are when hanging holiday decorations and not cover or distract from them with these warming displays of holiday cheer. It is appreciated it when you help us help you! Cold * Weather * Tornados * Flooding * Power Outage * House * Fire * Stuck in a Snowbank? A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION YOU CAN LIVE WITH: MAKE A PLAN CREATE A KIT PRACTICE WITH FAMILY! (click on the logo for more info) You don’t have to spend a ton of time or money to be prepared in the event of a disaster. It may be as easy as following a check list (like the one found via the logo above). Consid- er risks such as weather/temperature, shelter. Do you need a fireplace, wood or gas stove or portable generator might be enough. Do you have a safe place to ride out a storm in your house or business? Fire drills aren't just for school— what will your family do when the smoke alarm goes off? Take time to make a plan and then practice! practice! 2     Theft (naughty list) Sunday 1859 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a local gas station that reported a black mazda filled up with gas and then fled. Unfortunately the license information was not obtained. Found Property (nice list) Monday 1535 hours A resident stopped at City Hall and turned in a bracelet they found in the neighbor just across the street from the Police Department. If you lost a bracelet it will be here for 90 days, stop by and identify it. Crisis Intervention Monday 1608 hours Officer Fleming was sent to an address to check on the welfare of the 34YOA who lived there. The caller reported that he was receiving messages that appeared to be threatening suicide. The residence was unoccu- pied. With help from the 911 operator, the ex-husband and the phone company the woman was located in Edina. They made contact with her shortly after the request and a short time later she was transported to the hospital on a health and welfare hold. Theft from Auto (naughty list) Tuesday 1310 hours Caller reported that someone smashed the driver’s side window out of their car and stole their bag. Unfortu- nately the thief or thieves made off with a text book, make-up, a calculator, some medicine and other person- al items. Officer Fleming left a request with building management to see if there was any video of the dam- age / theft occurring. Damage to Auto (naughty list) Tuesday 1310 hours Unfortunately the crook who was obviously doing their Christmas shopping felt bad about only getting a text book and calculator from the adjoining car smashed a window out of another car to look for things to steal. There was nothing taken from the inside. Waiting to see if there is video of the crooks. Theft/Concealed Handgun w/o Permit Friday 1427 hours Officers Rosse and Larrive responded to a local business about an employee who had a loaded handgun in his possession. Upon arrival Officers learned the gun was now in a supervisor’s possession, not the employ- ee’s. After confirming the facts with a supervisor then finding out why the supervisor was suspicious of the man officers made contact. The supervisor was concerned the man was stealing and requested he empty his pockets not expecting to find anything other than the stolen property. A loaded handgun was not suspected. Officers immediately asked if the man had a permit to carry he shook his head no and verbally advised he did not. The man was taken into custody, read Miranda and after speaking with an attorney declined to com- ment on the gun or who’s jewelry he had in his pockets. Booked into the Dakota County Jail. DUI/Open Bottle Saturday 0211 hours While on patrol Officer Tanner Spicer spotted a car, occupied and running, in the ditch on Hwy 13. The car had just pulled out of the parking lot of the bar, drove across the road and proceeded into the ditch on 3     the opposite side of the road. Officer Spicer activated his emergency lights before walking up to the car and upon approach, he could see three people in the car, one of which was slumped over in the back seat. The driver, who appeared intoxicated, informed Officer Spicer he was (unsuccessfully) attempting to get out of the ditch. He was removed from the car and was asked to do SFST’s, to which he agreed. He was unsuccessful, failing all tests, including the last one, the PBT— it revealed a BAC of .219, and was subsequently arrested. A passenger’s grandparent arrived and took custody of both passengers. The back seat passenger was cited for possessing an open bottle of rum. At MHPD, the MN Implied Consent Advisory was read to the driver, who, after attempting to make contact with an attorney, decided he didn't want to take a test. He was issued his no- tice of revocation and sent to the Dakota County Jail to be booked for DWI—Test Refusal. The report was for- warded to the attorney for appropriate charging. Recovered Stolen Sunday 1632 hours While checking the industrial park Officer Todd Rosse spotted a vehicle that was out of place in the corner of a business lot. In checking the license plate, the car was reported stolen in Eagan. Officer Rosse made contact with Eagan PD who requested the car be towed to their office for processing. Officer Rosse checked the area and photographed the scene. The DCC was advised of the recovery. Crisis Intervention / AOA Sunday 2214 hours Officer Tanner Spicer worked with DCC 911 Operator Mike Whebbe to locate a suicidal male who was being tracked electronically by his roommate. The call started north of Hwy 3 and Cliff Road. Eventually the man stopped moving in a neighborhood of our city. Officer Spicer soon spotted the man’s car and moments later secured the man. He was turned over to IGHPD, as the incident began in their city. Crash Monday 1910 hours Officers Fleming and Rosse responded to three vehicle spin-out/crash reports on Hwy 110 from 1830 to 1903 hours. At 1910 hours, Officer Fleming received a request to make a phone call about one of the crashes. Of- ficer Fleming quickly learned the person was not happy (nor did they have all the facts) about the resolution of the incident. After the caller was done venting, Officer Fleming explained that officers spent 20+ minutes with the driver in question, the driver was okay, and there were no further concerns. No other calls received. Missing Person Tuesday 1745 hours Caller wanted to report his friend missing, last seen at the Mall of America. The reporter spoke with Officer John Larrive who gathered information from the reporter: name, DOB, cell phone number and physical de- scription. The reporter was calling from Edmond, OK. After reviewing options for an alert, a TTY was sent out. A short time later the Metropolitan Transit Police called advising the 21 YOA could be found in detox. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Someday it will make a great story. Have a great weekend! 4     We would like to give a big THANK YOU to our emergency response friends and partners: DCC Dispatch HealthEast Southeast Towing MHFD MH Public Works Our neighboring agencies MN State Patrol FourPaws Our City & County Attorney’s It is great working together with people that have the same common goal: Public Safety Best wishes to everyone in 2014! 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! 2013 YTD Calls for Service 7508 Citations 1542 Warnings 1218 Police Reports 1053 Response Time Average 5.25 2013: The Year in Review! 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; 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.