Local News

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office shares a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center throughout the month with WTIP Community Radio. Some calls seem silly; others are extremely serious. WTIP requested more information on a number of the incidents logged by law enforcement dispatchers in December 2020.
 
Follow-up information on those incidents is recorded here, but there were also dozens of other calls logged, for traffic stops; business and residence checks; medical calls; crank or misdialed 911 calls, and much more.
 
December 1
8:44 a.m. There was a report of a party trespassing at a vacant house in Grand Portage. The party was located and advised that they were trespassing and could face legal action.
2:16 p.m. A fluffy orange and white cat was found near Java Moose on Highway 61. The cat has been “found” before and the owner is known. A deputy took possession of the cat and booked it into the pound without any issues.
3:44 p.m. A party in Grand Marais called to report that their neighbor was burning plastic. A deputy arrived on the scene and found a fire pit with something smoldering. It smelled of burned paper and cardboard. The homeowner was informed of the complaint and he said it was only paper and cardboard, but he would be very careful in the future.
6:21 p.m. A party called to report a Volkswagen SUV parked on Pine Mountain Road in Grand Marais. It has been parked there for several hours and it is getting dark. The caller thought it was odd. A deputy responded and located the vehicle and the owner. It was a family out on a winter hike. 

December 2
8:15 a.m. A party in Lutsen reported a 2006 black Jeep Commander in the ditch on his property. He said it had been there for a couple of days. A deputy found the vehicle with front end damage, no paperwork in the vehicle. The vehicle was found to belong to a party from Washington State. It was towed by Cook County Towing.
9:14 a.m. A caller reported that someone had broken into a metal shipping container on their property. Some small tools and miscellaneous valves were stolen, but it was noting of high value. The caller just wanted it on record.
11:55 a.m. A test of the countywide pager system was conducted.
12:55 p.m. A party reported an alleged assault that occurred the night before. A party was cut with a box cutter. The sheriff’s office was unable to locate the alleged assailant.
3:15 p.m. A party asked the sheriff’s office to check to see if a plane had arrived at the airport. They last had contact about 30 minutes ago. The reporting party called back at 3:24 p.m., the pilot had failed to cancel their flight plan. All was fine. 
3:53 p.m. The drive-through teller panic button was activated in Tofte. The sheriff’s office was unable to contact the business and a deputy started toward the business. Cook County was able to make contact and the response was canceled.

December 3
12:22 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported in Grand Marais. A party was found to be splitting firewood for his employer.
3:25 p.m. A party called to get her mother’s cat out of the pound. Fines were paid and the cat was released to the owner.
6:04 p.m. A party in Grand Marais called to express concern about a neighbor. It sounds like the person fell. A sheriff’s deputy checked on the person, who did fall, but was upright and declining medical.

December 4
7:25 a.m. A motorist reporting hitting a moose two to three miles north of Gunflint Lodge. The moose got up and walked away. There were no human injuries. The car has damage to the front end and the hood is dented but is driveable. A case number was given for insurance purposes.
 3:41 p.m. A party called from Pike Lake Road to report two missing dogs, a Siberian husky named Odin and a long-haired white German shepherd named Elsa. The party called back at 4:00 p.m. stating the dogs were found.
5:16 p.m. Two calls were received from East Highway 61 reporting a deer that was hit on the hill side of the highway that was still alive. There was minor damage to the car that hit the deer. The deer was dispatched and moved off onto the shoulder.
1:17 p.m. A structure fire was reported in Hovland. See related WTIP story: Hovland garage destroyed by fire. 

December 5
10:02 p.m. A party came into the Law Enforcement Center with visible facial injuries, asking to speak to a deputy. An ambulance was paged and the party was taken to North Shore Health for treatment. The suspect in the assault was found passed out by a residence in Grand Marais and another ambulance was paged. All parties had been drinking. The sheriff’s office provided assistance keeping the parties separate at the hospital. Parties were treated and one was issued a citation for underage drinking, the other for underage drinking and for disorderly conduct. An adult at the residence was issued a citation for violation of the social host ordinance.
 
December 6
9:55 a.m. A party called to say they witnessed a deer getting hit on West Highway 61. The deer ran off.
 10:02 a.m.  There was a report of animals loose at Grand Marais Putt and Pets Mini-golf. The owner was contacted and told the sheriff’s office that the animals are not at the mini-golf course at this time. Another goat owner was contacted and it was not their animals either. The Putt and Pets owner called back and said that it was his animals who had wandered from their winter home on County Road 7.
 
December 7
10:09 a.m. The sheriff’s office assisted probation with a urinalysis. The person tested positive for THC and alcohol.
 10:20 a.m. There was another hold-up alarm at the Grand Marais State Bank, Tofte branch. It was a false alarm. The bank has someone scheduled to take a look at it.
 
December 8
10:44 a.m. A party called from Sea Gull Lake, expressing concern about the number of people skating on the lake and about all the extra traffic. The party felt it is not safe, as three people had gone through the ice on Clearwater Lake over the weekend.  The caller said the sheriff’s office should alert the public of the dangers of possible thin ice, possibly on WTIP. The caller was also upset that Visit Cook County was encouraging people to go check out the ice.
12:05 p.m. A caller from Grand Portage reported the possible theft of money from an individual over a period of time.
5:16 p.m. A motorist reported insulation and other debris all over the road on West Highway 61. The call was referred to MnDOT.
 
December 9
10:23 a.m. A caller reported a black and white loose dog on West Highway 61, heading toward the Rock Shop.
11:47 a.m. A party reported that his neighbor had a large burn pile next to his pole barn. The neighbor is concerned that the building could burn and it contains flammable liquids. Cook County checked and determined the fire was not a danger.
12:31 p.m. A caller reported a gray, short-haired dog with a white chest walking around on Foothill Boulevard. The dog has tags but they were unable to get close enough to see the information. The sheriff’s office suggested posting to the Facebook lost animals page. 
2:45 p.m. The sheriff’s office assisted with a demand to vacate in Grand Portage. 
3:53 p.m. A party on Ski Hill Road reported that someone sprayed mustard all over the vehicle and left a threatening note.
11:03 p.m. A party called from Texas to check on an online friend in Grand Marais. The caller said they normally play an online game every day and the party has not been online for over 24 hours and has not answered the phone. A deputy checked on the residence, which was dark and there was no response at the door. The deputy will check again tomorrow.
 
December 10
8:45 a.m. A caller in Grand Portage asked for help in getting an abandoned vehicle moved. The party does not want to confront the person who owns the vehicle. A party was advised to have the vehicle moved.
10:12 a.m. A caller reported a white vehicle blocking a road entrance on East Highway 61. The vehicle appears to be abandoned 
10:46 a.m. The sheriff’s office followed up on the check welfare call from Texas last night. A party in Grand Marais was found deceased at the residence. 
1:20 p.m. A party called from Old Shore Road in Grand Marais to report a woman walking a dog on the beach. There was a dispute over property lines and use of the beach area.
2:31 p.m. A caller reported a dent to their vehicle that happened sometime in November when the vehicle was parked on First Avenue East. The party needs a report for their insurance company. 
10:12 p.m. There was a report of a six-year-old girl abandoned on Highway 61 in Grand Portage. See the previous WTIP story: Mother arrested in Cook County after child found abandoned near Highway 61

As Minnesotans followed from afar the chaotic scene unfolding in Washington, D.C. Jan.

Capturing the community’s attention and dominating social media threads, a deer stranded on ice in the Grand Marais Harbor near Artist Point made for an abundance of spirited conversation to sta