Police Department Reports

Posted 6/28/22

RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department May 23 through June 9. Monday, May 23 Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3:30 p.m. …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Police Department Reports

Posted

RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports

The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department May 23 through June 9.

Monday, May 23

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3:30 p.m. at Wasson Lane and Cascade Avenue between 2012 Jeep, driven by Susan Marie Smith, 72, River Falls, and a 2013 GMC, driven by Tracey Rae Gilbertson, 48, River Falls. Both vehicles were traveling northbound on Wasson Lane; Gilbertson stopped at the stop sign at Cascade Avenue and Smith attempted to pull up alongside her on the right, but didn’t have enough room and collided with Gilbertson’s passenger side. Both vehicles had minor damage. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Thursday, May 26

Ovcers were called at 3:25 p.m. regarding a conversation someone overheard three students having referencing school shootings, guns and not coming to school the next day. The conversation prompted police to meet with three juveniles and their parents regarding the comments made; the students said they had been joking about something that had happened in a class. All were informed of the potential consequences and negative effects of having inappropriate conversations related to mass shootings and schools, even as jokes. The juveniles’ parents were all cooperative and concerned about the seriousness of the incident.

Friday, May 27 Allison Karen Sura, 35, River Falls, was arrested and cited for OWI after police were called at 2:49 p.m. to 537 E. Maple St. Sura admitted to driving to the home, which is a sober house, from across town. She registered a blood alcohol content level of 0.22. She told police she had had six beers earlier in the day. After completing field sobriety tests, police had probable cause for her arrest. She was booked and released to a friend.

Police responded at 4:30 p.m. to the area of Highway 35 and Golfview Drive for a one-vehicle crash. The vehicle, driven by Alexander L. Stockland, 24, Hudson, had driven into some trees in the east ditch. When police arrived, he was standing next to the complainant’s vehicle refusing EMS. He was sweating profusely and had glassy eyes. He told police he had rear-ended the complainant’s vehicle on Cascade Avenue somewhere past the Sixth Street roundabout, because his vehicle has no brakes. He was apparently on his way to get his brakes fixed. He also said that his accelerator became stuck after he rear-ended the complainant, causing him to accelerate uncontrollably.

The complainant said after Stockland rear-ended him in the 900 block of Cascade Avenue, Stockland lost control, went into the grass, cut the northwest corner ditch at Highway 35/65, crossed both lanes of traffic almost striking two vehicles, jumped the center median and continued north on Highway 35/65 until he crashed. Near the crash site, police found a baggie of meth weighing 14.96 grams, a baggie of marijuana and a smoking device that tested positive for meth. Stockland became angry, started swear- ing, threatening officers and screaming for an ambulance.

Police took him to the hospital where he continuously passed out while being spoke to. After completing field sobriety tests and refusing to submit to a PBT test, he was arrested and transported to Pierce County Jail for OWI, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possess drug paraphernalia and possession of a prescription drug without a valid prescription.

Police responded at 7:04 p.m. to 1457 Wildcat Court for a burglary. The complainants discovered that some- one had cut the lock off their storage unit. Multiple items were missing, including two toolboxes with about $1,000 worth of tools and eight fish ing poles.

Saturday, May 28

At 3:27 p.m., officers were asked to respond to the area of Cascade and Main where the complainant had found a 3-year-old child by himself, riding a bike and wearing a Captain America costume.

The child appeared dirty and unkempt. Officers tracked down the boy at a home in the 100 block of Cascade Avenue. The parents seemed unconcerned that the boy had almost ridden into Main Street and said they’d keep a better eye on him. Child Protective Services was notified.

Edie Mardelle Bjerstedt,

30, River Falls, was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving and $124 for operating a motor vehicle without insurance after she rear-ended a vehicle at 4:51 p.m. at Main and Cascade. A third-party complainant had called in a driving complaint on Bjer stedt; they reported she was swerving all over the road.

She admitted to texting while driving.

Police responded at 9:36 p.m. to Family Fresh (303 S. Main St.) where juveniles were causing a disturbance inside. Employees said they often receive customer com- plaints about the juveniles riding bikes in the lot, loitering, harassing and intimidat- ing customers. Ovcers made contact with a group of six juveniles. Two admitted they had stolen a drink and handed them over to police. Po- lice also confiscated a glass marijuana pipe. A 15-year- old was cited $98.80 for possess drug paraphernalia. All six juveniles were trespassed from the store.

Sunday, May 29

Ovcers responded to a one-vehicle accident at 1:22 p.m. on North Main Street at Paulson Road. A 2007 Buick Lacrosse, driven by Hannah Julia Matz, 19, River Falls, had lost a tire. The tire came ou the vehicle and rolled into the woods to the southeast.

The Lacrosse was towed due to disabling damage. Matz wore a seat belt and report- ed no injuries. She was cited $124 for operating motor vehicle without insurance.

Monday, May 30

A physical altercation was reported at 7:14 p.m. at Positive Alternatives (2860 Wil- liams Ave.) Two juveniles exchanged punches during two separate incidents. Each reported minor injuries. Bat tery and disorderly conduct charges were referred to Juvenile Intake for both individuals.

Saturday, June 4 Cody Devin Brightbill, 19, Baldwin, was arrested and cited for $313 for violate absolute sobriety law after a travc stop at 2:24 a.m. for an out headlight at Main Street and Cascade Avenue. Prior to the travc stop, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper advised River Falls police to keep an eye for an older Chevrolet truck that had been going about 101 mph on Highway 65 near County Road J. The trooper had pulled over and arrested a 20-year-old for OWI, who said he was following the Chevy. When police pulled over Brightbill, he admitted to having a couple beers at the Roberts tractor pull. After performing field sobriety tests and registering a 0.13 BAC, he was brought to the police station where he was booked and released.

Monday, June 6

An ovcer followed up on an abandoned vehicle complaint at 10 a.m. at 438 N.

Third St. The vehicle was a 2002 Saturn, registered to Jessie Lee Swosinski, 32, River Falls. At 10 a.m. June 9, the vehicle had not moved, so police left a voicemail. At 10 a.m. June 14, the vehicle was towed to the police impound lot.

Tuesday, June 7

At 8:55 a.m., a 2021 Dodge Ram, operated by

Paul James Belland, 58, Beldenville, struck a deer on Highway 35 one-third mile east of Quarry Road. The truck had functional damage. Belland wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. At 10:30 a.m., police followed up on an unregistered vehicle belonging to Bryant Killibrew, 51, River Falls, parked at 858 Benson St. Police have spoken with him multiple times on registering the vehicle, to which he’s shown no interest. The vehicle also has $525 in unpaid parking tickets. An abandoned vehicle warning was placed on the vehicle. At 1:57 p.m. June 13 the vehicle was still there, so police had it towed to the city impound lot.

Police responded at 10:26 a.m. to Main and Maple streets for a hit and run between a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, which fled the scene, and a 2016 Ford Explorer, driven by Teresa Delong Webber, 56, Rice Lake.

Both vehicles were traveling south on Main Street. Webber stopped behind another vehicle at the stoplight. The Chevy, which was behind Webber, rear-ended her then fled west on Maple Street. Webber attempted to follow the Chevy, but it was traveling too fast. The Ford had minor damage. Webber and passenger Daniel Christopher Webber, 55, Rice Lake, wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Police identified a suspect, but had no success locating him or the vehicle. Koianna Jean Kelley, 33, River Falls, was arrested for an active Pierce County warrant at 1 p.m. at Division Street and Wasson Lane. She was transported to Pierce County Jail without incident.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7:23 p.m. at Main and Union streets between a 2012 Ford Fiesta, driven by Josephine Rose Victoria Bottolfson Nelson, 16, Duluth, Minn., and a 2015 Honda Accord, driven by Kathryn Elizabeth Fay Aaby, 28, Hammond. Both vehicles were heading south on Main Street, Nelson behind Aaby. Aaby began slowing for stopped traffic, but Nelson was following too closely and rear-ended her. The Ford was towed due to disabling damage, while the Honda had minor damage. Nelson, who reported minor injuries, wore a seat belt. Her passenger, Lillian Veronica Marie Blair, 16, River Falls, also wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. Aaby and passenger John Thomas Aaby, 29, Hammond, wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Nel son was cited $124 for automobile following too closely.

Police responded at 11:05 p.m. to Kwik Trip East (1536 Cemetery Road) for a vehicle fire. The vehicle was parked near the fuel pumps and fully engulfed. Kwik Trip was evacuated before police arrived. The driver, Matt Follansbee, 40, New Richmond, said he was backing the vehicle out of a parking space when a burst of flames came from outside the passenger door. The hair of passenger Renee E.M. Peabody, 39, New Richmond, caught fire briefly but she was able to put it out. They both exited the vehicle from the driver’s side before it became fully engulfed. They had no idea how the fire started and had no insurance on the vehicle.

The fire department arrived to put out the fire. Wednesday, June 8

At 11:25 a.m., officers on patrol saw a purple, upside down cross spray-painted on a parking sign on the east side of the street in front of 232 S. Apollo Road.

At 3:48 p.m., an anonymous caller reported a woman in the 800 block of Sunset Lane was cutting the lawn with a scissors and hadn’t been taking out the garbage. Police made contact with her and offered her resources. They also advised her of the danger of cutting the lawn in the heat and keeping garbage in the garage. The report was forwarded to the St. Croix County ADRC.

Police were called at 8:15 p.m. to Highview Meadows Park (2433 Meadows Drive) for a welfare check. A complainant reported a mother with two young children appeared to be under the influence of something. The woman had tripped and fallen on one child. She had a large gash on her head and was bleeding. When police arrived, they made contact with the suspect, Marci Renee Rasmussen, 41, River Falls, who was bleeding heavily. She appeared shaky and like she was going to fall over while sitting on the park path. EMS arrived and transported her to River Falls Area Hospital for stitches.

When the officer was going to provide her a courtesy ride home, per procedure he asked to search her purse, to which she agreed. He found numerous prescription bottles, one of which wasn’t hers and contained narcotics.

She was arrested for neglecting a child and possession of narcotics and transported to St. Croix County Jail. The children’s uncle came to collect them until their father arrived home. Child Protective Services was also notified. Officers responded to a one-vehicle accident at 9:44 p.m. at Main and Summit streets. A wheel fell off a 2002 GMC Envoy, driven by Lizette Henriquetta Alvarado-Soto, 16, River Falls, when she was turning onto North Main Street from Summit Street. The officer observed damage to the rear driver’s side rotor.

The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Alvarado-Soto wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Thursday, June 9

At 2:54 p.m., a River Falls resident in the 600 block of Lawrence Street reported a local homeless man making threats via text to his mother about beating up her and her son. The man had stayed with her briefly awhile back, but she had taken him to stay at a motel in Hudson. The man was sending threatening text messages to his mother, who in turn told the complainant.

The texts threatened harm to the complainant, her son and the suspect’s mother unless the mother put money in his bank account. Police attempted to locate the man, who is known to live out of a gray Dodge Avenger and frequently stays in the Hudson Walmart parking lot. They were not successful in find ing him. They left a voicemail for the Dodge’s registered owner, the suspect’s girlfriend.

Officers responded at 8:44 a.m. to Glen Park (361 Park St.) for a graffiti complaint. Someone had used red spray paint to paint various words and numbers in the men’s bathroom, such as “30k”, “fade” and “gokokr.” The damage will cost about $50 to repair. Similar graffiti has been found at DeSanctis and Houman parks as well. A tipster called at 12:36 p.m. June 14 and identified a recent RFHS graduate as a suspect.

Police were called at 9:57 a.m. to Southtown Cleaners (1025 S. Main St.) for a property damage complaint.

In the early morning hours, a middle-aged man had been rummaging for loose change in the lost and found box. He then pulled several washers out from the wall looking for more change. While doing so, one of the washer valves attached to the main water line snapped in half, result- ing in a large flood. The laundromat, which is tile, had no damage, but Moxi’s Hair Salon next door received extensive damage (about $2,500 in flooring).