A look at the Law Enforcement Log, April 16-22

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 April 16-22. WTIP asked for further information on a number of calls.

On April 16, a party on Snowshoe Trail reported the theft of a seven-foot ski bench, taken sometime in the last two weeks. There are no suspects.

There was another report of a theft in Grand Portage, which turned out to be a civil matter between a boyfriend and girlfriend regarding missing money.

A party reported that checks were stolen while someone helped with moving. The checking account was closed.

A sheriff deputy responded to the Hovland area for a disturbance. They found the co-habitants at the residence arguing. The deputy was able to settle the argument.

There was another disturbance call on April 22 on West Highway 61. It was co-habitants arguing because one wanted to clean and throw items out, the other wanted to keep them.

On April 20, there was a report of a disturbance at Gramma Ray’s in Grand Marais. A male and female were being disorderly. They were asked to leave and deputies escorted then back to their hotel.

On April 17 there was a K9 seizure of a small amount of marijuana at the U.S. Port of Entry.

A vehicle ran the U.S. Port of Entry at the U.S.-Canadian border on April 18, but turned around and went back.

On April 18, some drug paraphernalia was found at Grand Portage National Monument.

There was a report of a vehicle in the ditch on April 16. Motorist Leslie Donek swerved to miss a deer and his 2013 Ford SRW ended up in the ditch on Pike Lake Road.

There was a report of a car in the ditch on West Highway 61 on April 21. The call was referred to the Minnesota State Patrol.
A party reported damage to a vehicle from April 2 in the parking lot on Casino Drive in Grand Portage.

There was another damage call reporting vandalism to a church bus on Eliza Road in Grand Portage on April 17.

At 2:03 a.m. on April 16 there was a report of suspicious activity on First Avenue West. A person was outside a vehicle on the street. The person was sick to their stomach and was given assistance.

Another suspicious activity call was received from Grand Portage, reporting parents dropping off children who had not been secured in a seat.

There was a call at 8:50 a.m. on April 16 reporting a juvenile in Grand Marais who was refusing to go to school.

There were a number of animal disturbances—a loose dog on the Gunflint Trail on April 16 and a missing dog in Grand Marais. On April 20, a caller reported a fox and kits in their yard on 2nd Avenue East in Grand Marais.

There were reports of dead deer in the road on West Highway 61 on April 18 and on East Highway 61 on April 19.

 There was a report of a tax scam on April 16.

Sheriff deputies assisted the US Forest Service with a traffic stop on Pincushion Drive on April 17; the Minnesota State Patrol with a traffic stop on the Gunflint Trail; Cook County probation on April 19 and with a child protection call in Grand Marais on April 21.

On April 20, sheriff deputies assisted the U.S. Coast Guard which had observed a flare offshore on Lake Superior. After searching the shoreline, it was determined that it was possibly part of a meteor shower.

There was a check welfare call for an intoxicated person laying on the sidewalk by Java Moose. The party was taken by ambulance to North Shore Health.

There was another check welfare call seeking assistance for an elderly man who had fallen. There were no injuries.

Another welfare check was requested for a woman walking through yards on 8th Avenue in Grand Marais. The woman was taken to North Shore Health for mental evaluation. She was then booked for 4th degree assault.

On April 19, a party reported someone trespassing on land to access Lake Superior. The trespassing parties were gone when the deputy arrived.

The sheriff’s office shared information on a stop arm violation and answered a noise ordinance inquiry on April 19.

Three check hazard calls came in that were referred to the Cook County Highway Department, one from Cascade Beach Road, reporting a hole in the road; another from Springdale Road reporting a washed out culvert and another on Mink Ranch Road for a washed out culvert.

A caller reported damage to a mail box on Devil Track Road. No suspects.

A party called the sheriff’s office on April 21 to report that a cat had killed hamsters while the party’s mother was watching the apartment. This is a civil matter.

A deputy helped a party in a motorized wheelchair stuck on Cascade Beach Road at 12:30 p.m. on April 21.

At 1:12 p.m., a squad car was damaged on Cascade Beach Road while deputy attempted to turn around with little room.
On April 21, a caller reported an abandoned vehicle on Country Road 34. It was determined to have been a vehicle involved in a Minnesota State Patrol stop last week. Party referred to State Patrol.

A party on Devil Track Lake called just after 2 p.m. on April 20 to report that about eight cars were parked at the DNR Fisheries landing and people were water skipping snowmobiles. The caller said water skipping a snowmobile is illegal as it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile in an unsafe or harassing way.

A sheriff deputy arrived to find 10 to 15 vehicles parked on the roadway and about 25 people watching from the shore. The deputy advised the group that they needed a permit to waterskip on the lake. Group members said they understood and said they would leave.

WTIP asked Sheriff Pat Eliasen for clarification and the sheriff said the act of water skipping in itself is not illegal. However, there are other statues which may coincide with such an event such as: the need for an operator to be trained; excessive noise or influence of alcohol or drugs.

Sheriff Eliasen said, “Any of these could be applied if the situation called for it but the deputies use great discretion when responding to calls of this nature. We obviously need to determine a balance between recreation and taking it too far where it becomes criminal and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office must take action.

Sheriff Eliasen added, “When the public calls our office with complaints of this nature we must respond and take appropriate action, whether it’s a simple conversation or something further.”

In addition, during the last week, there were nine stops to check residences and businesses. Deputies found an open door at a business on North Broadway on April 19. The deputy secured the door.

The log included 12 traffic stops, resulting in three citations, eight reprimands and one verbal warning. There were three medical calls. There were seven crank or misdialed 9-1-1 calls.

There was only one lost and found call.  A party found a key fob on a bench and turned it in to law enforcement dispatch.
 
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.