Page 6 - Crosby-Ironton Courier

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CROSBY-IRONTON COURIER
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
For the record
Police complete two Safe and Sober details
The
Crosby
Police
Department handled approximately 95 calls between June
22 and 28. Officers responded
to the following calls:
On June 22:
—Officers responded to a
business on West Main Street
after receiving a call that an
employee had found their
doors
were
unlocked.
Officers checked the interior
of the building and employee
indicated that all appeared
okay inside. No damage and
no loss reported.
—Officers received a
report of a residence on the
300 block of Sixth Street that
had an illegible house number. An officer checked and
both the house and garage
had numbers that were adequate and readable.
—Late in the evening,
officers received a report of
two girls yelling and being
loud on Sixth Street NE.
Officers checked the area but
were unable to locate the girls
at that time.
On June 23:
—An officer responded to
the parking lot of a business
on East Main Street and
assisted with a parking problem per request due to construction work. The owner of
the vehicle was located and
moved the car.
—An officer assisted a
motorist on East Main Street
who needed a jump start due
to a dead battery.
—An officer responded to
a report of a theft/shoplifting
incident that just occurred at a
business on West Main Street.
The officer located the juvenile female suspect a short
distance away, recovered the
loss, and issued the juvenile a
citation for theft. Loss was
returned and other potential
charges pending against the
juvenile.
—An officer responded to
a two-vehicle accident that
occurred at the intersection of
First Street NW and First
Avenue. The officer obtained
driver and vehicle information, took photographs, and
completed reports. No apparent injuries occurred.
—An officer assisted a
motorist who was stalled in
the intersection of West Main
Street and Third Avenue.
On June 24:
—A report was received
from a Crosby resident who
stated that an unknown company, identifying themselves
as “IRC”, was possibly
attempting a scam. After
checking into the company, it
appeared to be fraudulent.
Caller was advised and a
report generated. Officer is
checking further into the
company.
—Officers received a
report of a domestic assault
that just occurred at a residence on 1st Street SW. After
obtaining details from reporting persons, Officers placed
Teresa Anne Wells, 33, of
Crosby under arrest for
domestic assault. Wells was
transported to Crow Wing
County Jail and reports were
submitted to County Attorney
as well as Crow Wing County
Social Services.
—An officer responded to
County Road 28 and assisted
the Crow Wing County
Sheriff’s Department on a
welfare check involving a
very agitated individual.
—Officers responded to
Third Avenue SW and First
Street SW and assisted the
Crow Wing County Sheriff’s
Department on a traffic stop.
Deputies placed one person
under arrest at the scene.
—Officers responded to a
building on East Main Street
and assisted employees with
an agitated individual there
until they calmed down.
—A juvenile female came
into the Crosby Police
Department and reported a
disturbance that had occurred
in the park earlier involving a
juvenile male. Details were
received. Officer made contact with those involved along
with their parents and advised
all.
—A minor two vehicle
accident was reported in the
parking lot of a business on
East
Main
Street.
Photographs were taken, a
report generated, and one person was issued a citation for
Answers
no insurance on a motor vehicle. Reports to be submitted
to County Attorney’s Office.
On June 25:
—Officers received a
report of possible identity
theft situation involving a
Crosby resident. Details were
obtained and a report started
for investigation.
—Officers received a call
from an individual who
reported a civil matter problem over the sale of a vehicle.
Officer advised the caller on
options involved in the matter
and started a report for documentation.
—A set of keys were
reported missing. Loss information received and a report
generated.
—An officer responded to
a residence off of North
County Road 30 and assisted
the Crow Wing County
Sheriff’s Department in locating an individual who was
driving recklessly in the area.
—Officers received a
report of a theft that occurred
on Second Street SW near
First Avenue SW. Loss and
suspect information was
obtained. Officer investigated
and confirmed the suspect was
a known juvenile male. Loss
was recovered and held as evidence. The juvenile male was
issued a citation for theft and
parent advised of the situation.
—Officers received a
complaint of neighbor causing
another neighbor some problems on First Street SW.
Details were obtained and a
report completed to document. Officer advised.
—An officer was flagged
down by two individuals on
West Main Street who reported problems involving a
roommate. Details were
obtained and the officer
advised on all options.
—A bag of miscellaneous
personal items were turned
into police that was found at
the Crosby Memorial Park on
Serpent Lake. Items were
secured and owner being
sought.
On June 26:
—A wallet found at the
Crosby Skateboard Park was
turned into police who
secured for owner to claim.
—Officers assisted with
traffic control for a funeral
procession from East Main
Street to County Road 28.
—Officers checked the
intersection of Superior
Avenue and Oak Street after
receiving a report of bushes
blocking the visibility of traffic on Oak Street. Public
Works Department notified.
—Officers received a
complaint of a possible ordinance violation on the 300
block of Second Street SE.
Officer checked and noted no
violation. Caller was advised
and a report generated.
—A bicycle was reported
stolen from the Pennington
boat landing. Loss information was received and report
forwarded to agency handling
that jurisdiction.
—An officer responded to
Fourth Street, Ironton and
assisted an officer from the
Deerwood Police Department
on a traffic stop.
—Officers were flagged
down by a citizen and a report
received of a possible missing
juvenile female from the 100
block of Third Street NW. A
short time later, the juvenile
was found and okay.
—Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of
Third Avenue NE to attempt
Motorcyclist dies
in crash Saturday
On June 27 the Crow
Wing County Sheriff’s Office
responded to single motorcycle crash on County Road 8,
approximately two miles
north of Pine Center in southeast Crow Wing County. The
driver, 59-year-old Gregory
Metzger of Oakdale, was
traveling northbound on
County Road 8 near Camp
Lake Road when his motorcycle left the roadway on a
curve. Metzger, who was
wearing a helmet at the time
of the crash, was thrown from
his motorcycle, striking a
roadside marker sign.
Resuscitation efforts to
save Metzger were unsuccessful. Metzger’s body has
been sent to the Ramsey
County Medical Examiner to
determine a cause of death.
The cause of the crash
remains under investigation
by the Crow Wing County
Sheriff’s Office.
Assisting the Crow Wing
County Sheriff’s Office at the
scene included the Minnesota
State Patrol, North Memorial
Ambulance, and the Garrison
Fire Department and First
Responders.
to locate a vehicle in order to
check the welfare of the occupants. Details of the callers
concerns were relayed to officers. Officers checked the
area along with North State
Highway 6 for the vehicle but
were unable to locate.
Information was passed onto
the agency where the vehicle
was heading.
—An officer responded to
the Crosby Memorial Park on
Serpent Lake camping area
after receiving a fireworks
complaint. Officer made contact with those camping there
and advised, “No more fireworks, except for those curly
snake types that stain concrete.” All claimed innocence.
On June 27:
—Crow Wing County dispatched an officer to a disturbance call at a residence on
Third Avenue NE where an
out of control male was
reported to be “throwing
things around” the house. The
officer, with the assistance of
a Crow Wing County Deputy,
responded and made contact
with three individuals at the
scene. The troubled male had
calmed down and an ambulance was requested. The
male was subsequently transported to CRMC for medical
care.
—An officer responded to
Third Avenue SW and
retrieved a small child’s bicycle that had been abandoned
there. Bike was secured at
police department.
—An officer responded to
North State Highway 6 at the
Yawkey Road after receiving
a driving complaint involving
a vehicle in the area. Officer
located the vehicle and made
contact with the driver, identified
as
Shirley
Jean
Loxterkamp, 62, of Remer.
After further investigation,
Loxterkamp was placed under
arrest for third degree driving
while intoxicated and open
container/bottle in motor vehicle. Evidence was secured.
Loxterkamp was transported
to Crow Wing County Jail and
vehicle was towed. Report
submitted to Crow Wing
County Attorney’s Office.
Crow Wing County Sheriff’s
Department and Deerwood
Police Department assisted
Officer at the scene.
—An officer responded to
the 200 block of West Main
Street and assisted a motorist
who was having vehicle problems.
—An officer received a
call from a resident on First
Street NW who reported
someone had borrowed their
bike without permission. The
officer made contact with the
individual involved in taking
the bike and it was returned to
the owner a short time later.
On June 28:
—At approximately 12:15
a.m. while on routine patrol at
Lakewood Cemetery, an officer located an occupied suspicious vehicle parked in the
cemetery.The officer stopped
the vehicle and identified the
occupants as five juveniles.
The officer issued all warnings for curfew violations.
Predatory
offender
relocating in
Brainerd
The Brainerd Police
Department has received
notification
from
the
Minnesota Department of
Corrections regarding a Level
3 Predatory Offender that will
be relocating in northeast
Brainerd. 28-year old Joshua
Matthew McMillen will be
moving from a residence in
the 100 block of Gillis
Avenue NE to the 200 block
of Fourth Avenue NE in
Brainerd on July 1.
McMillen is not new to
the community; he has been
residing in Brainerd since last
April of this year. McMillen
is relocating approximately
five blocks from his current
address. Because McMillen is
not a new release to the community, there will not be a
community notification meeting regarding him. Public
Fact Notification Sheets
regarding McMillen are
available at the Brainerd
Police Department.
McMillen has a history of
sexual contact with children,
both male and female,
between the ages of nine and
14 and he was known to the
victims. McMillen is not currently wanted by the police
and has served the sentence
imposed on him by the court.
The Brainerd Police
Department reminds people
to report criminal activity by
this offender or any other
individual by calling 8292805 or 911 for emergencies.
One juvenile male was issued
a citation for possession of
tobacco.
Evidence
was
secured. Parents of all were
notified. Report submitted to
Crow Wing County Attorney.
—Officers made contact
with two juvenile males on
Second Street SW who were
involved in the use of a tobacco related product. Both were
identified and issued warnings
to include juvenile tobacco
violation(s) and no tobacco
use of any sort in the skateboard park.
—Officers were dispatched to a business on First
Street NW involving an
unwanted intoxicated female
there who was causing a disturbance. The female was
located at a business on Oak
Street a short time later and
officers
identified
her.
Officers received details of
what had occurred from the
employees and the female.
The female was subsequently
trespassed from the original
business and a report was
completed with full details.
—While on routine patrol
late in the evening on Third
Avenue NW, an officer noted
an open door on a motor vehicle. The officer made contact
with the owner of the vehicle
who checked it out and
secured it.
Other calls for the week
included: alarms, medical
calls, harassment issues, welfare checks, unkept yards, disturbances and citizen assistance.
CITATIONS /
ADMINISTRATIVE
CITATIONS / WRITTEN
and VERBAL WARNINGS
Warnings and citations
issued during the week included: four for an equipment violation.
During a Safe and Sober
Detail on the evening of June
26 and morning of June 27,
the following warnings and
citations were issued: Officer
initiated eight stops: three
warned for speeding, one
warned for the “move over
law”, one warned for an
equipment violation, one citation issued for failure to
change address on license, and
the officer assisted State
Patrol on a motor vehicle accident.
During a Safe and Sober
Detail on the evening of June
27 and morning of June 28,
the following warnings and
citations were issued: Officer
initiated 14 stops: one citation
was issued for driving after
revocation, one citation was
issued for speeding, four
warned for speeding, six
warned for equipment violations, one warned for having a
chain dragging off of a trailer,
and one warned for failure to
drive in single lane.
ANIMAL PROBLEMS:
The following animal
problems were reported during the week: Officers
received a report of a dog left
in a vehicle parked in a parking lot on East Main Street.
Officer checked the area for
the described vehicle and dog,
but were unable to locate them
at that time; officers received
a barking dog complaint coming from a residence in the
area of First Street SW. The
officer made contact with the
owner of the dog and advised
them of the call. Report generated in the event there are
future problems.
Johns charged in court
A former police chief, an
attorney and six other area men
are facing gross misdemeanor
charges of soliciting prostitution in a public place. Charges
were filed in Crow Wing
County District Court against
former Aitkin Police Chief
Scott Leslie Smith, 62; Kevin
Michael Desmet Groseclose,
27, Little Falls; Luke Daniel
LaBorde, 31, Crosby; Matthew
Kevin Berg, 32, Brainerd;
Brent Michael Seivert, 42,
Breezy Point; Eugene Paul
Allord, 47, Little Falls; and
Kevin Ames Chase, 49, following a sting by law enforcement
in Baxter last month.
Crow
Wing
County
Attorney Don Ryan drafted a
criminal complaint against an
eighth man, Attorney Richard
Albert Ohlsen, 71, Brainerd,
although charges are currently
pending after at least one county judge recused himself from
signing the complaint.
A ninth individual was
never charged.
Baxter Police Chief Jim
Exsted previously told the
Brainerd Dispatch the operation, which involved the
Brainerd Police Department
and the Crow Wing County
Sheriff's Office, is the first step
toward uncovering the major
players in sex trafficing in the
Brainerd lakes area.
Between May 19-20, the
men—known as "johns"—
responded to an advertisement
placed by Baxter police on
Backpage.com, a classified
advertising Web site the
National Center on Sexual
Exploitation says generates
nearly 80 percent of all online
prostitution advertising revenue. The post, placed under
the "Escort" section, advertised
the services of a fictional 22year-old woman named Sunny.
The ad stated the woman would
be in town for one day only and
provided fictional photos and a
phone number.
The ad—entitled "Fun and
Frisky platinum BLONDE IN
Town May 20th!!!!!"—read:
"I'm super HOT & have tight lil'
body for giving you a real
TREAT!!!"
An undercover officer posing as Sunny on the phone set
up appointments at a Baxter
hotel with men who called or
texted the provided phone number. According to the criminal
complaints, the johns allegedly
agreed on a price for either a
half-hour or hour of time with
Sunny.
On May 20, police arrested
the men who knocked on the
door of a hotel room where they
believed Sunny was located.
Two men—LaBorde and
Seivert—were transported to
the Crow Wing County Jail
May 20, while the other men
were released at the officers'
discretion and informed they
would be summoned to court to
face charges. Seivert is scheduled to appear for his omnibus
hearing July 28 and LaBorde's
omnibus hearing is scheduled
Aug. 7. Smith, Groseclose,
Berg, Allord and Chase were
summoned to appear for their
hearings Aug. 3.
Once the ad was placed, the
undercover officer began
receiving correspondence from
several different phone numbers requesting more information. Most of the conversations
began with the johns asking
whether Sunny was in town,
usually followed up by questions about what was offered
Weekly DNR report…
Patroling lakes
Activity
this
week
focused on patrol of area
lakes for boating and fishing
activity, and AIS compliance.
Numerous contacts were
Take it to the Box
A free medication disposal box is available for the
public located in Crosby City
Hall. The drop off box will
accept unneeded over-thecounter medications, prescription and narcotic medications from community
members.
Leave medications in the
original container.
Remove your name and
other identifying information
from the container.
Leave name of medication on the container.
Drop medication bottle
into disposal locations.
NO syringes, needles or
sharps are accepted.
NO chemotherapy or radiological medicine is accepted.
Citizens are encouraged
to contact the Environmental
Services Solid Waste Office
at 824-1290 or to visit the
Crow Wing County Web site
http://www.crowwing.us and
search for “Take it to the
Box” for more information.
made for miscellaneous boating equipment and registration
violations, illegal length
northern pike, and fishing
without licenses.
To contact your local
DNR conservation officer, call
829-2948.
TIP
hotline
Anyone witnessing a fish
or wildlife violation is
encouraged to contact the 24
hour
toll-free
Turn-InPoachers (TIP) hotline at 1800-652-9093. Cell phone
users can dial #TIP.
Burning permits
available online
Burning permits are available on the Department of
Natural Resources Web site.
Visit: www.dnr.state.mn.us/
forestry/fire to apply for a
permit.
A special note: a campfire
is to be three feet in diameter
by three feet high, and keep
the ground clear of all combustible material at least five
feet from the base of the fire.
and for how much. The following quoted material is taken verbatim from criminal complaints.
"Are you taking appointments or are you pretty booked
up?" Berg allegedly stated in
one text message before inquiring whether "full service" was
an option.
"Full service" is a term
familiar to law enforcement as
meaning sexual intercourse.
"What is your rates?" Chase
allegedly asked, stating he was
looking for a "mutual massage."
"Hi sunny this is gene want
to play," Allord allegedly sent,
later asking for the price of a
"half hr in call."
The term "in-call" refers to a
case where the john goes to
wherever the sex worker is
located, versus "out-call," where
the sex worker goes to the john.
"Well break it down for me
and I'll make it happen,"
Groseclose allegedly text messaged after inquiring whether
Sunny was available the night
before on May 19.
The undercover officer
spoke on the phone with Seivert
after missing his call, and
Seivert apparently mistook
Sunny as either a customer of
his business or as inquiring
about a boat for sale. Seivert
then allegedly stated, "I know
what it was. Jesus, how stupid I
am. I seen your ad on
Backpage."
Smith, the former police
chief, appeared more cautious
than many of the others,
allegedly declining to discuss
price or services over the phone.
"Let's see when I get there,"
Smith apparently said to the
undercover officer. Before
entering the hotel, however,
Smith allegedly agreed to a half
hour of full service.
After each of the men
knocked on the door of the provided hotel room, officers
arrested them on suspicion of
soliciting prostitution. Searches
of the johns universally turned
up cellphones with phone numbers matching those corresponding with the undercover officer
and cash, typically equivalent to
the arranged price.
Some of the johns were also
carrying "cover," a slang term
for condoms, often requested by
sex workers as part of a transaction. Items found on LaBorde
included $100 cash, a package
of condoms, several beverages
and a bouquet of roses.
Besides LaBorde and
Seivert, who were transported to
jail, the other men formally
charged in the sting—Smith,
Groseclose, Berg, Allord and
Chase—admitted to agreeing to
pay for sex at the scene, according to the complaints.
Smith told officers he
believed full service "meant
naked, messing around, sex,
whatever."
Groseclose and Chase both
admitted to expecting some sort
of sexual activity, while Berg
and Allord admitted they intended to have sexual intercourse
with Sunny.
“Ultimately”, Exsted said,
“the goal of law enforcement is
not to only bust "johns" arranging sex with prostitutes, but to
put an end to sex trafficking at
its roots.
"I think what becomes very
concerning is the trafficking
piece of it, and as we get better
educated from the advocates,
we recognize the need for us to
step in and at least try and start
some type of enforcement,"
Exsted said in an earlier interview.
An arrest made by the
Rochester Police Department in
February provided information
leading officers to believe an
active market for paid sex exists
in the Brainerd lakes area.
Antwon Gilbert Robinson,
known locally by the nickname
"Gucci," was arrested for soliciting an undercover officer from
Rochester to work as a prostitute
in Brainerd. Robinson indicated
he had other women working
for him and men from the area
were willing to pay $300 per
hour for sex.
Robinson pleaded guilty to
felony
attempted
solicitation/inducement of prostitution, an offense that carries a
maximum sentence of seven
and one half years in prison, a
$20,000 fine or both. His sentencing was scheduled for June
24.
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