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Speedy response to robbery yields arrests

Lakes Area Police officers along with state patrol, Wyoming Police and sheriff deputies quickly apprehended two male suspects identified by the “victim” of a robbery.  The incident happened about 7:30 a.m. Friday May 4, according to the caller reporting the hold-up.  A male said he was threatened with a sawed-off shotgun and personal items were taken.

As authorities looked into the incident, though, it appeared the caller had  been part of a plot to steal from another party.

In the criminal complaint police allege the robbery victim-caller had taken items such as a DVD recorder and cellphone from someone else, and two accomplices were to pick him up, they would all drive to Coon Rapids where items could be sold at a pawn shop.

The driver and passenger in the transport car had different ideas.

The criminal complaint alleges that as the caller got in the Ford Taurus, he was  ordered at gunpoint to give-up the stolen goods and exit the car.

So, the original thief, now victim, reported this to authorities,  who traced the Taurus plates to a registered owner in Woods Apartments, on North Avenue,  in Chisago City.
SWAT was also dispatched due to a reported pesence of a firearm.  Residents in nearby apartments were evacuated and a secure perimeter was established. 
 
Desmond Salinas, a 27-year old male, who allegedly acted as the driver was outdoors when police arrived at the apartment building and was taken into custody without incident.
Michael Ernest Carpenter, age 26, was talked into exiting the residence by authorities.  

Lakes Area Chief of Police Bill Schlumbohm said two other parties refused to leave the apartment and a search warrant was executed, at which time the two were removed.  A 31-year-old female had outstanding warrants and is detained.

The complaint states the “victim’s” wallet was found in the apartment, along with items identified as sttolen from the original party.

The county attorney reports May 7 was the first appearance and Carpenter faces felony aggravated robbery charges and Salinas has been charged with aiding and abetting Carpenter.

May 5 grassfire in North Branch on 381st Street, reported about 3 a.m.  Several other reports of illegal burning of debris piles and recreational fires bigger than allowed (three feet wide pit). Until rainfall and green-up there is a fire caution in effect and outdoor burning is not advised.  Calls came from all over the county and were handled by North Branch, Lakes Area and deputies.

Theft of a snowmobile from 466 Cambridge Drive.  Loss is a 1995 Polaris Indy Sport.

May 4 EMS and authorities went to the scene of an All Terrain Vehicle accident, on Lofton Avenue, rural Chisago City.  A passenger is believed to have fallen off while his spouse was operating the ATV about 9:30 p.m.  Possible DUI charges are pending results of blood samples taken of the driver.   The passenger was unconscious when 9-1-1 was alerted,  but reportedly was evaluated by emergency responders and he declined to be taken to the hospital.

 Also May 4 all area law enforcement were involved in responding to a report of two suspects fleeing the scene of an armed robbery. See seperate story.
May 3 reported theft of a generator from construction site on Wilcox Road, rural Harris.

April 30 a notice of a potentially dangerous dog was presented to the owner of a Mastiff allegedly responsible for biting someone,  walking past the property. The alleged bite incident happened  about 6 p.m. at 449 on Government Road, where the dog was loose and allowed to roam.

The Chisago City, Center City and Lindstrom fire departments responded to a residential address on Liberty Lane, east of Lofton for a garage fire. Call came in about 2:15 a.m.
Lakes Area Police got a report of a sick racoon in Chisago City and visually affirmed the animal was acting ill, and put it down.

BOOKED
April 30
Gabe Michael Gust, 45, Rush City. Booked by North Branch Police. Released.
Brittany Lee Spence, 26, Elbow Lake. Booked by Lakes Area Police. Released.

May 1
Richard Dwain Bachman, 53, St. Paul. Booked by county. Day release okay.
Nadin Gabriella Grange, 51, Taylors Falls. Booked on warrant. Released.
Troy Lee Gillette, 36, Forest Lake. Booked by county. Released.
Christopher Daniel Brown, 35, North Branch. Booked by county. Released.
Richard Robert Wemyess, 48, Forest Lake. Booked by Wyoming Police. Held.
Thomas Robert Maynard, 49, Hudson WI. Booked by county. Released.
Erick Robert Ferngren, 30, North Branch. Booked by county. Released.
Jacob Charles Thiemes, 28, Chisago City.  Booked by county. Released.
Erica Lynn Moran, 25, Forest Lake. Booked by unknown agency. Released.
Brianna Lei Miller, 28, Ham Lake. Booked on warrant. Released.
Ronnell Washington-Russell, 21, Mpls. Booked by North Branch. Released.

May 2
Jessica Lynne Dahlgren, 39,  Forest Lake. Booked by county. Released.
Ashley Ray Brown, 29, Coon Rapids. Booked by unknown agency. Released.
Shaina Anne Sirleaf, 30, Center City. Booked by Lakes Area Police. Released.
Nicholas Alan Dupre, 35, Forest Lake. Booked by unknown agency. Released.
Paul James Finnestad, 27, St. Paul. Booked by county on warrant. Released.
Stacy Renee Gariepy, 41, Mora. Booked on warrant. Released.

May 3
Laura Lynn Beckman, 30, North Branch. Booked by Wyoming Police. Held.
Andrew Mark Murschel, 24, Rush City. Booked by unknown agency. Released.
Shawn Allen Phetteplace, 44, North Branch. Booked by North Branch Police. Released.
Matthew Scott Wood, 37, Wyoming. Booked by Wyoming Police. Released.
Michelle Marie Oehlers, 29, North Branch. Booked by North Branch Police. Held.
Michelle Alma Roy, 36, Lindstrom. Booked by county, held under sentence.

May 4
Michael Ernest Carpenter, 26, Chisago City.  Booked by county.
Desmond Anthony Salinas, 27, Chisago City. Booked by Lakes Area.
Pamela Marie Huffman, 31, Hutchinson. Booked on warrant. Held.
Roger Raymond Rekkedahl, 26, Rutledge. Booked by North Branch Police. Released.
Anthony Gerard Schmidt, 37, North Branch. Booked by Lakes Area Police. Released.

May 5
Robert Joseph Tew, 36, Grand Rapids. Booked by North Branch Police. Day release okayed.
Cody Edward Forse, 19, North Branch. Booked by North Branch Police on arrest and detain order. Day release okayed.

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