A look at the Law Enforcement Log

Each week the Cook County Sheriff’s Office provides a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center in the past week. This week’s report provides details logged by law enforcement dispatchers from March 26 to April 1.

On March 26, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of harassment. The matter was referred to the County Attorney for review.

On March 26, there was an “incident with squad” call. The call came in after a deputy accidentally broke a window as equipment was being loaded. Sheriff Pat Eliasen said the window has been replaced.

The Grand Portage Casino reported a counterfeit bill on March 30. The incident was referred to the United States Secret Service, which handles counterfeit cases.

On March 26, a caller reported concerns about the driving of a semi-truck, reporting that a truck crossed the centerline on West Highway 61. The call was referred to Minnesota State patrol.

Deputies were called to assist the public in a number of ways, on March 26 to accompany a citizen to gather belongings; on March 29 to assist a vehicle stuck in a campsite on Bally Creek Road in Grand Marais and on March 31 to help retrieve a purse left at a business.

There was a call reporting three horses loose on County Road 7 in Grand Marais on March 26.

There were a number of suspicious activity calls. On March 26, a caller reported footsteps in an abandoned apartment in Grand Marais. Deputies investigated and whoever was there was gone on arrival of the squad. There was also a call regarding a suspicious person at the playground at the Cook County Community Center on April 1. That party was also gone when deputies arrived.

An anonymous letter was received on March 28 referencing a theft in Grand Portage. It was determined to be unfounded.

A parking problem was called in due to a suspicious vehicle – a car had been parked on East Highway 61 for a couple of days. Deputies found nothing suspicious.

There was a report of damage to a vehicle at an auto shop. The vehicle was possibly involved in an accident, but no further information is available.

Animal disturbance calls came in with reports of dead deer on West Highway 61 on March 27; an injured seagull on March 28; and there were two calls of loose dogs, one in Hovland and one in Grand Marais, both on March 29.

After two dogs got in a fight on March 29, a citation was issued for leash ordinance violation in Grand Marais.

There were two calls from 5th Avenue in Grand Marais asking for assistance after being locked out. The parties were given the phone number for a local locksmith. According to Sheriff Eliasen, deputies do not assist with lockouts unless it is a matter of safety.

Sheriff deputies assisted probation in completing a warrant arrest.

There was a report of a power line hanging on March 27 on West 5th Street and a tree on the power line on 8th Avenue West in Grand Marais on March 30.

 A theft of coal was reported from the Tofte Park Road on March 28.

A caller reported shots fire in Grand Portage on March 29. That call was determined to be unfounded.

There was a report of a car in the ditch on Timberwolf Lane in Grand Marais on March 29. It turned out to be a car parked on the power line, which was gone when law enforcement arrived.

There were car/deer accidents on March 29 on Poplar River Road and on West Highway 61 on March 30.

 A party reported that they lost a set of Apple air buds on March 30.

Law Enforcement received notice from a security alarm on March 30. It turned out to be a false alarm.

A party called the Law Enforcement Center wanting to be fingerprinted.

A telemarketing swindle was reported in Grand Marais on March 26.

There was something new on the law enforcement center dispatch log during this reporting period. There were requests for welfare checks from the Lake County law enforcement dispatch every day.

WTIP asked Sheriff Eliasen why these calls were being made. He replied, “Our dispatchers work completely alone from 4 a.m. - 6 a.m., to adhere to DOC (Department of Corrections) recommendations, we have initiated safety checks with Lake County to validate their safety. We record these for proof to the DOC so they can verify it is being done.”

There were eight medical calls in the reporting period. Deputies conducted 32 traffic stops, which resulted in reprimands and five motorists received citations. They also conducted 10 business or residence checks. Deputies also participated in Operation Stone Garden, a joint patrolling effort of the Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol.

Dispatchers issued 13 permits to burn debris and handled five crank or misdialed 911 calls.

If you need help from Cook County Law Enforcement, dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency calls, contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at 218-387-3030.