A look at the Law Enforcement Log, July 28 - August 4

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 July 28 – August 4, 2019.

On July 30 at 5 a.m., a trucker called to tell the Sheriff’s Office that his trailer brakes had locked up on him. He said the truck is blocking the lane, but he has flashers on and safety triangles out. He just wanted to let law enforcement know. The truck was moved off the roadway by 8 a.m.

At 8:18 a.m. on July 30, Pastor Dale McIntire reported that someone doing wheelies in the parking lot of Cornerstone Community Church had spun a rock up and shattered the glass front door. Photos were taken of the damage and the parking lot. This is under investigation.

On July 30, a man called 9-1-1 to report that he was lost on the Pincushion Trail System at 1:15 p.m. Cook County sheriff deputies, Grand Marais firefighters and First Responders took part in the search for the man. Law enforcement used his phone coordinates to locate the man. Rescuers arrived at the patient at 2:47 p.m. He was brought out to the North Shore Health ambulance and was transported to North Shore Health.

A party reported that an iPhone had been stolen from their room at the Grand Portage Lodge on July 30. The party said the lodge was very helpful, but the phone had not been turned in. They asked for a report to file with their cell phone company.

 At 10:33 p.m. on July 30, parties reported a couple arguing on the sidewalk on First Avenue. Sheriff Deputies responded and separated the couple for the night.

At 8:05 a.m., a caller asked for the 9-1-1 number for the Los Angeles Police Department. The party said a client had called him needing help in L.A. Cook County found a number online and relayed it to the caller.

A party called at 8:52 a.m. from a resort on West Highway 61 to report that they had found a bag of bones in a green plastic tarp. A tree was growing over most of it. It looks like it had been there quite a while. The bag of bones was found. There was fur in the bag and the bones appear to be from a medium-sized dog.

At 1:18 p.m. on July 31, a party reported a hit and run at the Grand Marais Rec Park boat launch. A party hit his pontoon boat trailer.

A missing Jack Russell terrier was reported at 4:45 p.m. on July 31. Party was looking for the dog in the Croftville area. Party called back at 5:18 p.m. The dog had been found.

A number of calls were received from West Highway 61 just before 6 p.m. on July 31 reporting a fawn stuck in the falls on the upper side of the road. When a deputy arrived at the location at 7:44 p.m., the fawn was gone.

Law enforcement was called to assist a party in the Hovland area whose neighbor’s dog charged his puppy. Party is concerned for his dog as the neighbor’s dog is quite a bit larger. Deputies advised the neighbor that she needed to keep her dog on her own property.

 At 9 p.m. on July 31, the sheriff’s office received a report that someone was camping in the city hall parking lot. The deputy found the person who told the deputy that they thought they could camp there because it said “24 hour parking.” They were in the middle of cooking dinner. The deputy explained the difference between parking and camping and said if they were still there later, they would get a citation. The party was gone when the deputy checked again after midnight on August 1.

 A party from Canada called on August 1 to report hitting a deer the day before between Ryden’s Border Store and Grand Portage. They requested a report for their insurance company.

There was a call reporting a vehicle in the ditch on West Highway 61 at 12:41 p.m. on August 1. The car was on its side, leaning into the ditch on the south bound lane near the county line. When deputies arrived, the car was gone.

A party found a gray and black cat wearing a black collar with a bell running around town. Deputies took the cat to the pound. The owner was located and paid the pound fee to reclaim the cat.

On August 1, a member of the Grand Marais Lions Club called to say they could not locate owners of three cars parked on First Avenue where the Fisherman’s Picnic vendors need to set up. One vehicle owner was located; two were towed.

 A party flagged down a sheriff deputy at 5:45 p.m. on August 1 to say a woman left her infant in her car when she went in and out of the laundromat. Deputies checked and none of the cars in the parking lot had babies inside. No one in the laundromat had babies.

A party called at 7:53 p.m. on August 1 reporting a fox hanging out on the beach on East Wisconsin Street. Cook County advised them to try to scare it off with noises, but said it may be hard to make it go away with all the people – and food—in town. If the fox doesn’t leave, Cook County suggested getting in touch with a game warden.

There was a call reporting that a bus had backed into a red pickup at the Grand Marais Apartments on August 2. There appeared to be no damage to the pickup.

At 5:05 p.m. a business owner called to report someone parking illegally in their private lot. Cook County told the party they could have the vehicle towed. A towing company towed the car to their lot. The vehicle owner called the sheriff’s office and was given the location of their car.

At 6:07 on August 2, a party called to report a car parking on the grass in front of Visit Cook County. A deputy located the registered owner and told her she could not park on the grass. The party moved the car.

 At 8:30 p.m. on August 30, a party called to report a white 4-wheeler driving fast on Broadway. A deputy patrolled the downtown area, up and down Broadway and The Point and did not see an ATV.

A party reported that they had hit a moose cow just before 10 p.m. on August 2. They were driving a Chevy Silverado pickup. There was damage to the driver’s side front quarter panel, mirror and bumper. The moose appeared to be stunned and ran into the woods after a short time.

A public assist call came in at 10 p.m. on August 2 for a Class C trailer with transmission problems. Someone is coming from Canada to get the trailer.

There was a call for help from a Lutsen man who had flipped his 4-wheeler at 10 p.m. on August 2. The party said he had hurt his knee and he was not sure where he was; he was possibly on a snowmobile trail. Cook County Sheriff deputies, Cook County Search and Rescue, and Lutsen Fire and First Responders were paged and began a search for the man. At 11 p.m., responders reached the man. By 11:30 p.m. they had him out to the ambulance. The man refused medical transport.

A call went out just before 11 p.m. of an accident on West Highway 61. A Michigan couple had crashed near Thomsonite Beach, taking down a power pole and electrical lines. Sheriff Deputies, Lutsen Fire and First Responders, Grand Marais Fire Department and North Shore Health ambulance were paged. Arrowhead Electric Cooperative was paged to cut power to the downed lines.
Traffic was blocked while the accident victims were extricated from the vehicle and loaded into the ambulance and the power lines cleared.
Power was restored to nearby residences by 12:52 p.m.

There was a call of an accident on Moose Valley Road in Hovland at 12:44 a.m. on August 3. The reporting party said a vehicle ran off the road, 15 feet into the woods. There were two occupants; one was complaining of neck pain. Colvill and Hovland Fire departments and First Responders and sheriff deputies responded. Parties were transported to North Shore Hospital.

A call for help for a 21-year-old man from Pine City on the Superior Hiking Trail near Tom Lake in Hovland went out at 7:20 a.m. on August 3. Party reported to be suffering from heat stroke. Colvill and Hovland fire departments and Cook County Search and Rescue were paged. The 9-1-1 dispatcher lost contact with the party by phone.
Responders headed onto the trail with two ATVs and a mule trailer at 7:53 a.m. They reached the patient at 8:35 a.m. Patient was upright and mobile and was taken to Cook County Ambulance and transported to North Shore Health.

 A parking problem was called in on August 3. The registered owner was reached and said he would move his bike from the problem location.

 At 2 p.m. on August 3, a passerby told a sheriff deputy on foot patrol about a dead deer stuck in the rocks on the east side of the Grand Marais harbor. Cook County contacted the city street department, which said they didn’t have the staff to do anything about the deer, but would see what they could do.

The Law Enforcement Center received a hold up alarm from a business on West Highway 61. Cook County made contact with someone in the office who said they had accidentally pushed the button. Confirmation was made with the security company. No emergency.

 A five-year-old with a pink shirt and tiger face paint was reported lost on Broadway Avenue in Grand Marais at 3:44 p.m. on August 3. Information was relayed to dispatch to all law enforcement personnel. Child was found safe at 3:49 p.m.

 On August 3, a caller reported an older, burgundy Chevy Blazer driving all over the road at 4 p.m. Deputies were unable to find the vehicle.

There was a call of a disturbance at a State Park campsite. Deputies arrived to find parties arguing over cell phone use, with each party telling the other to get off the phone.

A party reported a lime green convertible driving at high speeds down the middle of the road on West Highway 61 on August 3. Information was shared with Minnesota State Patrol.

 A party called the sheriff’s office at 5 p.m. on August 3, reporting that she had heard a very loud bang that shook her home. She said it appeared to come from the North Shore Waste lot. Deputies located a group shooting tannerite on Eliasen Mill Road. Parties said the first shot was very large and they would be shooting smaller portions from then on. They also said they would not be shooting very much longer as they were almost out of ammunition.

Two calls came in reporting cars needing to be moved on West Highway 61. Cook County contacted the first registered owner and he said he would move his car. He called back and said the car had been moved. Shortly after another car also needed to be moved and that owner was contacted. He agreed to move the car as well.

There was a call from Grandma Ray’s at 11:24 p.m. on August 3, asking for assistance in getting an unwanted party to leave. Deputies located two parties and advised them to leave. Parties were told if they returned, they would be arrested.

 A party called at 12:08 a.m. reporting very loud music coming from GunFlint Tavern or Voyageur Brewing. Person has earplugs in and windows closed and can still hear music after midnight.

 A motorist was stopped on West First Street on August 4 and a Grand Marais man was arrested for driving under the influence.

Another party called at 1:50 a.m. on August 4 reporting loud music at a neighbor’s house. When a deputy checked the area at 2:07 a.m., there was no music.

Two calls were received just after 7 a.m. on August 4 reporting a car horn honking for the last 10 minutes. Callers said it was a red 2-door car. Car was gone when deputy arrived.

At 7:19 a.m., a caller said they pulled over to let a truck pass and the trucker yelled at them.

A party called the sheriff’s office on August 4 reporting damage to a rented room. Party called back later and said a deputy was not needed, the renter agreed to pay for damage.
 
There was a report of a missing white male cat with gray on his back at 12:57 p.m. on August 4. The cat’s owner called back at 5:13 p.m. to say they had found the cat.

There was a call reporting an accident at 12:58 p.m. The caller said a female party had been run over by a car and was trapped underneath it. Grand Marais Fire Department and First Responders were paged and found no entrapment.

 Just before 2 p.m. on August 4, a woman flagged down a passing car on the Gunflint Trail asking for help in locating her 22-year-old daughter, who went hiking. She was concerned that he daughter could be injured. Party called law enforcement later to say the daughter had been found.

There was a minor two-car accident on east Highway 61 at 1:58 p.m. on August 4. There were no injuries.

Cook County received a call reporting a motorcycle parked in a no parking zone by the beer garden on August 4 at 2:17 p.m. Party said the motorcycle was blocking the emergency lane by the road block closing the street and the driver refused to move. When the deputy arrived, the motorcycle was gone.

There was a call on August 4 regarding a custody matter. Party was told to follow up in court.

On August 4, there was a report of a party driving a black Suburban, drinking a Labatt’s Blue beer in Grand Marais. A deputy drove around town and was unable to locate the party.

A party called at 5:23 p.m. about a medium-sized dog in a car with only one window open a little bit and no water in car. Deputy confirmed that dog was panting and while waiting for owner to return seemed to be panting more. The deputy entered the car to get dog to take to the pound. As the deputy was leaving, the owner returned. She was given the dog and a citation.

Law enforcement dispatchers received a call on August 4 from someone concerned about a suicidal friend in Douglas County, Wisconsin. The dispatcher found a phone number for Douglas County emergency services for the person. Cook County also informed Douglas County of the call.

The North Shore Health ambulance reported that a red pickup passed the ambulance in the Schroeder no passing zone. The pickup had been tailgating the ambulance for some time. Lake County Sheriff’s Office will look for the vehicle.

On August 5, a party camping on Meads Lake reported that their group of four campers had another group of seven people move into their campsite, uninvited and belligerent. DNR and Forest Service Conservation Officers will go look into the matter.

At 8:46 a.m. on August 5, a party reported someone camping on their property. Deputies found a tent and blankets and left a note for the campers, letting them know they cannot camp there.

Fraud calls
A party in Grand Marais contacted the Sheriff’s Office on July 31 reporting that they had received a letter from DOTservice.com asking for payment so they did not lose their DOT driver’s license. The party made a payment but has since cancelled payment on their credit card. They wanted law enforcement to be aware of the scam.

Another party from Grand Portage called on July 31 to report a call about their social security card being compromised. They were told to press one to continue, pressed one, spoke to party and was pretty sure it was a scam. Party didn’t lose any money or information, but wanted to know if the sheriff’s office thought this was a scam. Cook County verified he was correct, the government wouldn’t get a hold of him by phone.

Yet another party said they had received a scam call on July 31. They reported that they had a phone call saying they had to call back on a matter or they would be arrested. Party just wanted to check with the sheriff’s office that it was a scam. Cook County told them they were correct; it was a scam.

A party called on August 1 to report a scam in which someone called pretending to be Amazon security. They talked a family member into resetting a password and took over the computer. Party was cancelling credit cards. They just wanted to warn others they should not let anyone take over their computer.

There was another social security scam call report on August 2.  

Lost and found
A party reported a lost wallet on the Gunflint Trail on August 1, but called back to say it had been found.

A credit card belonging to a woman from Elk River was found downtown Grand Marais on August 2. Party had a friend pick up the card.
 A party called from North Broadway in Grand Maris to report a lost wallet containing photo ID, cash and credit cards on August 2.
A party came in to the Law Enforcement Center on August 2 to pick up their lost debit card. She saw on social media that it had been turned in to law enforcement. There was no sign of it yet. Cook County will contact the party if and when their card is turned in.

 A party stopped a deputy on foot patrol downtown on August 2 to turn in a set of found keys. Keys are on a single silver ring.

 A black Samsung Note 9 cell phone was reported lost downtown just after 9 p.m. on August 2. The phone was found the next day.

On August 3, a party turned in a set of keys found on the side of Highway 61. Key ring includes a Ford key, a master lock key and two other keys. Keys will be kept in the lost and found cabinet at law enforcement.

 A party lost a motorcycle key with black handle and the word “Victory” on the key ring somewhere on Artists’ Point on August 3.

 A party called for help in retrieving a phone dropped in Trout Lake on August 3. The phone is in about 4 feet of water. It is a gray iPhoneX in a black life proof case. Cook County informed the reporting party that the sheriff’s office does not have divers for lost phones.

On August 4, a party called to report a purse lost at Mink Lake. It is a small brown purse with ID, credit cards, key fob, etc.

A purse belonging to a Minneapolis woman was found and turned in to Java Moose on August 4. Cook County found a phone number for the party and let them know the purse was at the coffee shop. Party will pick it up there.

A party reported a purple Galaxy S9 phone lost on the parade route in Grand Marais at 2:21 p.m. on August 4. Party asked to be contacted at another number if the phone is turned in to law enforcement.

During this time frame, sheriff deputies made 36 traffic stops resulting in warnings or reprimands. Eight other traffic stops resulted in citations. There were 19 stops to check businesses or residences. There were 12 medical transport calls. Sheriff’s Office dispatchers handled 21 crank or misdialed 9-1-1 calls.