Law Enforcement

Lakes Area Police took three reports of thefts from vehicles last week. Incidents were on Maple St., and Pleasant Ave. in Lindstrom. Car was reported stolen from an address off Newlander, in Lindstrom. Arrest was made when an officer, responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in Lindstrom, detected the odor of synthetic marijuana. Items were seized from occupants.

A report has been sent to the county attorney for possible charges. Sunday, September 1 a gas line was cut when a homeowner was digging a trench with an excavator. Xcel was summoned and Lindstrom firefighters stood-by. The incident took place on Norelius Lane about 10:30 a.m. Always call 8-1-1 for a utility locate to be done BEFORE you dig. September 1 there was a complaint of a trespassing onto private property for mining gravel.

A property owner adjacent to the Tiller pit in Sunrise claimed the excavating process had crossed the property boundary, and he estimated 10,000 yards of gravel were taken illegally. Property line stakes placed at the borderline had been moved and were piled, which the deputy took photos of. The case could proceed criminally or in civil court. Sheriff’s deputies were called to a two-car crash August 29 at the bridge over I-35 at #17 or Athens Trail, in Lent Township. There was a GMC Envoy traveling eastbound over the bridge when a Toyota coming off the freeway ramp, northbound, turned to head west on 17 and was hit by the Envoy T-bone style. The woman driving the northbound Toyota, 56 year old Sheree Meader, North Branch, was extricated by first responders and transported. Her injuries were not updated. The Envoy driver, 45 year old Craig Severson of Elk River and his passenger, were not seriously hurt. The crash was reported about 5:30 p.m.

A mail carrier’s car caught fire August 26 while he was on his route near Harris. The North Branch Fire Dept. came to the scene after a Harris Fire Dept. grass fire rig malfunctioned. There were no injuries but the U.S. mail materials in the car were destroyed. The incident was reported about 4 p.m.

BOOKED
August 26
Richard Charles Kelleher, jr., 52, Landfall. Booked by county for Pine county hold.

August 27
Trevor Duane Nelson, 31, Oak Park Hts. Booked on warrant. Released to another facility.

August 29
Bradley John Snell, 19, Lindstrom. Booked by county. Held.
Jakeob Michael Peterson, 20, Scandia. Booked by warrant. Released.
Lisa Moneymaker Schmidt, 47, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.

August 31
Joyce Lynn Tschida, 47, Shafer. Booked by warrant. Held under sentence.
Richard Stewart Cranston, 50, Shafer. Booked by county. Held.
Richard Todd Anderson, 56, Chisago City. Booked by county. Held.

September 1
Sara Ann Kanada, 27, Lindstrom. Booked by county, held under sentence.
Scott Anthony Audette, 49, Isanti. Booked by county, held under sentence.
Jeffrey nmn Peterson, 55, Pine City. Booked by county, held under sentence.
Alexander Nicholas McDonald, 18, Chisago City. Booked by Lakes Area. Held.
Vincent nmn Thompson, 19, North Branch. Booked by county on probation violation. Held.
Kaytie Ann Milz, 28, Chisago City. Booked by warrant. Held.


Fireworks-making trial is delayed until December

Two area men set to be in court September 3 for the start of a trial in connection with a hazardous materials incident near the Wyoming-Forest Lake border last May, have had their trial postponed to December. The two-- Timothy Kenneth Gray, 33 and David Michael Walsh, 40, have entered not guilty pleas to felony level charges of aiding and abetting explosive/incendiary devices and the making, transporting and storing of these items. Gray and Walsh were arrested after multiple agencies responded to a call of an explosion and fire at a residence on Highway 8, May 18.

A large quantity of fireworks-making materials were seized and disposed of. Also; the man arrested for an overnight theft of the safe this spring from Meredee’s in Chisago City, has been sentenced and is serving 26 months at the state prison in St. Cloud. Chad Michael Larson, 36, of White Bear Lake pled guilty to possessing burglary tools and the third degree burglary charge was dismissed as part of his plea agreement recently presented to Judge Robert Rancourt. Larson is also never allowed to possess or transport firearms, will submit DNA, etc. and will pay restitution to the restaurant from his prison wages in the amount of $6,771.

Medical examiner releases findings 

Investigations into the causes of two recent deaths in Chisago County have been closed and cause of death released by the county’s service provider, Midwest Medical Examiners. According to the public information manager for MME, the cause of death for Tyler VondeLinde, 27, was methamphetamine toxicity. Sheriff’s deputies were notified he was missing late last June and a search was initiated.

He was located June 28 not long after the search ensued, along 338th Street in Chisago Lake Township. The medical examiner ruled this death accidental. The death of a man now identified as Curt Gilbert, no home address, age 37, who was found alongside I-35 about 6 a.m. the morning of August 6; has been ruled a suicide. Death was attributed to a shotgun wound to the head.