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The distracted driving law enforcement saturation effort resulted in multiple cellphone violations being ticketed throughout the county last week.

The state of Minnesota has a hands-free law which disallows use of any mobile device held in your hands while behind the wheel of a vehicle.  It doesn’t matter if you are checking a text message, making a call or looking at GPS— you can not hold a device while operating a vehicle.

April 20 Lakes Area Police advised officials at Chisago Lakes Area High School to go into a secure or soft lockdown mode,  while a potential threat— received about 8 a.m. —could be looked into.  Chief of Lakes Area Police Bill Schlumbohm says the investigation and an interview with the subject making threats found no validity and school staff and police resolved concerns inside of an hour. 

Also on April 20 the Lakes Area Police were notified the severe weather siren north of Chisago City (East Viking Blvd.) did not activate during testing that day at 1:45 p.m.  Contractors who maintain the apparatus have not been able to get to the siren due to late spring thaw condition. The police chief said it’s on the work order schedule and the siren’s condition will be assessed.  If it needs repair or replacing it will be a responsibility for Lindstrom and Chisago City.

April 20 a person working for a financial institution repossessing a vehicle in Chisago City reported a gun was brandished by the presumed borrower. No injury from the confrontation resulted.  The incident happened about 1:15 a.m.

Lakes Area officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic stop and found three occupants, two under-age— and alcohol in the vehicle.  The 21-year old driver was cited for procuring alcohol for minors and expired tabs.

April 19 a small fire at an address on Neal Avenue in Lindstrom about 10:55 a.m. Powerline and dead tree were burning, the fire department handled.

A vehicle fire at the Green Lake Public Landing (south end) is believed to have been “non accidental.”  About half hour after midnight the report came in of the car on fire and a second vehicle was spotted driving away.  Chisago City put out the car fire.

April 18 a resident called in the dumping of five dead geese at an address on Malmberg north of Lindstrom. No other information available.

River Road in Rushseba Township needed to have washout areas marked and/or barricaded.

BOOKED

April 17

TeriAnne Raasch Cross, 40, Cambridge. Booked by warrant. Released.

Kathryn Lynnette Mcconn, 39, Stacy. Booked by North Branch Police, held under sentence.

Lindsey Ann Wilcox, 35, Forest Lake. Booked by county. Released.

April 18

Cathy Margaret Clune, 59, Pine City. Booked by county. Released.

Sean Willis Strelow, 48, Hinckley. Booked by county. Released.

Joseph Francis Kane, 31, WI. Booked by warrant. Released.

April 19

Bradley Dwayne Dowd, 47, North Branch. Booked by county. Released.

James Ames, 53, St. Cloud. Booked by North Branch. Released.

April 20

David Michael Jones, 36, St. Francis. Booked by state patrol. Held.

Cory Alan Trampe, 44, Pine City. Booked by county. Held.

Dean Bradley Pehl, 57, Vadnais Hts. Booked by Wyoming Police. Released.

April 21

Jordan Orrin Forbord, 29, Winona. Booked by North Branch. Released.

Brock Steven Krull, 32, Lindstrom. Booked by Lakes Area Police. Held.

Jeffrey Scott Wilbur, 58, North Branch. Booked by North Branch. Held.

April 22

William Franklin Dutcher, 32, Cambridge. Booked by  county. Held.

Erik Steven Hammer, 31, North Branch. Booked by warrant. Held.

Richard James Stanley, 56,   Shafer. Booked by warrant. Held.

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