A look at the Law Enforcement Log, August 6-12

Each week the Cook County Sheriff’s Office provides a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center. WTIP requested more information on the following incidents. This report provides more details on calls logged by law enforcement dispatchers from  August 6 - 12.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office handled a child protection/neglect case on August 6.

The sheriff’s office received a report of on injured peregrine falcon on a coal pile August 6. The call was transferred to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The law enforcement center was contacted on August 6 by a caller concerned about a dog in a white Toyota van from South Dakota with no windows open. A sheriff deputy checked on dog. It is 67 degrees and sun roof on the van is open. 

At 7:50 p.m. August 6, a truck driver asked if he could park in the county highway department parking lot for the night. The truck driver was given an okay.

A party in Grand Portage requested an extra patrol at their residence in Grand Portage after seeing an individual allegedly trying to steal gas out of a can at 4:30 a.m. that morning. 

There was a report of an individual trespassing on Wisconsin Street in Grand Marais at 9:06 a.m.

A monthly test of the countywide paging system was conducted at 11:55 a.m. August 7.

A motorist called to report a fuel truck, “making bad passes” on West Highway 61 at noon August 7.

Parties eating at a café on the Gunflint Trail August 7 reported a dog barking and lunging at them. The dog grabbed and damaged the female party’s shirt. The dog is a black and white shepherd with a service animal vest. Parties asked to speak to a deputy.

On August 7, an individual received notice that they were not to trespass at a local property in Grand Marais. 

On August 7 at 4:43 p.m., a party called with concern about her parents from Arkansas, traveling on the North Shore. Party said she hadn’t heard from them in 24 hours. Just before 5 p.m., party reported they were okay, just out of cell phone range all day.

A party reported kids swimming by the dock at the Grand Portage National Monument at 6:30 p.m. August 7. Party said there is no problem with them swimming there, but they were using foul language and starting to destroy property at the dock. Kids were gone when a deputy arrived. 

Extra patrols were requested at a property in Lutsen August 7 because of concerns about a former resident returning.

At 7 p.m. August 7, a caller reported a woman leaving the Rec Park ballfield area, talking on the phone and possibly in distress. Deputies spoke with the driver, who was just hot and sweaty from a hike. 

At 12:31 a.m. August 8, a party called having mental health issues, asking to go to the hospital to be checked out.

At 12:47 a.m. August 8, a party called saying he was being followed by some people who had harmed his family. Cook County contacted family members who were fine. Deputies talked to the party, who said he knew he wasn’t making sense. He declined any medical attention and said he needed some sleep. 

There was complaint of loud music from a camper in the Rec Park campground at 3:10 a.m. August 8. Deputies arrived at campsite to find speakers outside the camper playing loudly. After three knocks on the camper, the individual came outside, appearing intoxicated. An alcohol breath test was given and a citation was issued for minor consumption. The music was turned down. 

At 4 a.m., a party was given a ride back to Grand Portage. 

A party requested a welfare check for a person in Grand Portage who didn’t show up for work August 8. A third party was contacted and checked on the person who was home sick.

A party called at 9:57 a.m. August 8, asking for assistance in regaining custody of his daughter who was believed to be in Cook County with the mother and the mother’s family. Cook County advised the party that he needed to go through the courts to work this out.

A party on County Road 7 reported suspicious activity at 1:18 p.m. August 8. The party said someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau had stopped by, spoke to her son, and left. They were driving a faded green Chevy. Party just thought it was odd. 

A party called August 8, reporting that a white van with no side windows had been parked on the side of the road on County Road 35 for well over 24 hours. Party was concerned it was a vagrant. Cook County contacted the registered owner of the van. He is working with the ground building the mountain bike trail from Lutsen to Tofte and meeting other crew members there. 

There was a call of a lost dog at 6:06 p.m. The dog is an orange and white English setter named Maggie. Party called back at 6:28. The dog returned. 

A party in Grand Marais called with a complaint of trucks jake-braking down the bottom of the Gunflint Trail. Party says trucks going by the area, excessively braking 4-5 times a day. Cook County advised the party that there is a city ordinance governing this situation. Deputies will keep an eye out while on patrol. 

There was a call of a suspicious party collecting firewood in a Grand Portage logging area.

A party called at 8:30 p.m. August 8, asking if Cook County had an emergency contact number for Como Oil, as they are on the keep-fill program and need propane. The after-hours tech told them they would try to find a tech. Cook County suggested waiting a little while. While on the phone with the dispatcher, Como called back. Propane will be delivered. 

A party called at 7:38 a.m. August 9, requesting a phone number for a tow company. Cook County gave contact information for all three North Shore companies to the party. 

At 10:14 a.m., a party on Devil Track Road called to find out if census takers are out and about. A male party in an older, small, green truck had stopped by saying he was with the census. Caller just wanted to let law enforcement know. 

On August 9, a party came into law enforcement complaining of harassment. 

A party called Cook County at 2:12 p.m. August 9 letting law enforcement know that they were broken down in the southbound lane on Highway 61 in a 40-foot RV pulling a 20-foot boat. They were over as far as possible, but asked if they could get help getting a tow. Sheriff deputies directed traffic around the breakdown, as it was on a curve, until a tow truck was able to respond at 4:30 p.m.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 hang-up call at 4:42 August 8. After being cut off, a party called back to report a two-vehicle accident. Maple Hill Fire Department, Grand Marais Fire Department and sheriff deputies responded. Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and one person was transported to North Shore Health by ambulance. 

A Quebec man was stopped at the US-Canadian border at 5:15 p.m. August 9. The man had 27.2 grams of marijuana and two paraphernalia pipes. 

An officer on foot patrol at 8:45 p.m. was stopped by a concerned citizen who said the raffle canoe in front of the Beaver House was not locked. The sheriff’s office contacted the Cook County Chamber, which is raffling the canoe. 

There was a car/deer accident at 9:31 p.m. August 9. There was no damage to the vehicle and driver and passengers were not hurt. The deer was alive, but had broken back legs. Sheriff deputies responded and dispatched the deer. 

A resident on County Road 44 called in with questions about ATVs on county roads at 8:58 a.m. August 10. Party is concerned that riders are not following the rules of the road and “hot rodding.” Party would like the people to be educated about ATV safety. 

On August 10, a party on Birch Drive was assisted in a battery change.

Another party was stopped at the border with a small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia. A citation was issued. 

A caller reported suspicious activity at his van August 10. It is not running and he believes it was tampered with while he was “locked up for six days.” 

At 12:37 p.m. August 10, there was a report of two dogs in the ditch, on the Sawbill Trail, south of the Carlton Peak entrance. Party picked them up and took them to the Tofte General Store. It is a beagle mix and German shepherd mix. Owner was tracked down via Facebook. 

At 2:52 p.m. August 10, a resort owner called to see if a deputy could stand by as they packed up the belongings of a guest that failed to check out by the proper time. New guests – a wedding party – were waiting to use the room. Cook County advised that this is a civil matter and they should follow lodge procedure for removal of guest belongings. 

A party called at 5:56 p.m. August 10, reporting that they almost hit a small dog on Dyers Lake Road. It was a small, very friendly, female, shitzu type of dog with black collar. Cook County had seen a lost dog notice on Facebook and gave the reporting party that information. Party was able to reunite dog with owner. 

At 6:11 p.m. August 10, a woman called to report an “overly friendly” person asking her a lot of questions and freaking her out at Johnson’s Foods.

A party called from the Grand Portage PowWow at 8:19 p.m. August 10, asking for a ride home to Ely. Party was disconnected.

There was a noise complaint on South Caribou Drive at 8:41 p.m. August 10. Party said there are 4-5 young couples, drinking and being loud. Noise went on until 1 a.m. last night, with cursing. Reporting party asked them to quiet down and they refused. Deputies arrived and issued a citation to one party for possession of marijuana.

There was a call from the Grand Portage PowWow security booth at 10 p.m. There were a group of youths talking about drinking and fighting. Security intervened, but wanted Cook County to know they said they planned to fight elsewhere. 

The law enforcement center received a 9-1-1 text saying “emergency need help,” then a message saying “all okay” at 10:40 p.m. August 10. A deputy visited the residence and all seemed to be fine. 

A sheriff deputy checked a group on Hollow Rock Road at 2:02 a.m. August 11. It was an underage drinking party.

There was a report of a rollover crash on the Gunflint Trail at 10 a.m. August 11. One vehicle, a 2007 Honda Civic, ran off the road and was likely totaled. Driver and passenger were calling from Poplar Haus, requesting a tow. 

There was a car/deer crash on West Highway 61 at 10:20 a.m. August 11. 

 A party reported a boat and trailer on the side of the road with a possible broken axel at 11:36 a.m. August 11. Party is trying to find a way to move the trailer. 

A party came in to the law enforcement center with a pair of Oakley sunglasses on August 11. They said their child had found the sunglasses on the side of the road on July 1. The child was using the sunglasses and someone recognized them. The owner of the sunglasses called the party and said they want them back. The party gave the sunglasses to law enforcement to return to the owner. 

At 4:27 p.m. August 11 a party called requesting a probation check on a family member with mental health issues. 

The sheriff’s office was asked to help locate some overdue campers at 7:29 p.m. August 11. Party said they were staying in a tent on an inland lake. Members of the sheriff’s office checked Devil Track, Grand Marais, and Temperance River State Park. At 9:30 p.m., the parties were located at the Flour Lake campground. They were fine and would be leaving in the morning. 

The Grand Portage Lodge reported an assault at 10:30 p.m. August 11. A guest insulted a woman and got into a scuffle with her boyfriend.

There was a report of suspicious activity at the new warming house at the Cook County Community Center. The reporting party thought someone might be staying there. The report was determined to be unfounded as construction workers on site had seen no one. 

Lost and Found
On August 6, a deputy on patrol found a cardboard box of various plumbing parts. Box was taken to the law enforcement center for safekeeping.

On August 6, a driver’s license was turned in to the law enforcement center. It turned out to be a fake and it was shredded.

On August 7, a brown wallet with driver’s license, credit card and cash was found. The wallet will be sent to the owner. 

Another call came in August 7 from a party that lost a hearing aid downtown over the weekend. Party contacted the sheriff’s office  August 12 to say the item had been found.

A party reported a lost a keychain with a YMCA pass and Scandinavian flag keychain over the weekend.

A mustard colored Michael Kors wallet was found at a restaurant in Grand Marais and dropped off at the law enforcement center. The owner was contacted and picked up the wallet.

On August 9, a party reported a phone lost while in the BWCA, along one of the portages off of Alpine Lake. The phone is an iPhone in a pink case in a ziplock bag. Party asked to be called if the phone was turned in. 

A wallet was found at World’s Best Donuts August 9. The party contacted law enforcement dispatchers, who gave them the phone number for the donut shop. 

There were 19 crank or misdialed 9-1-1 calls during the reporting period and 14 medical calls. Deputies checked 31 businesses and residences.

There were 60 traffic stops that ended with a reprimand; 33 with a verbal warning and 16 motorists received citations. 

Sheriff deputies also participated in Operation Stonegarden, a joint exercise with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. 

 For non-emergencies, call the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 218-387-3030.  If you are experiencing an emergency, call 9-1-1.