RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports

The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department Feb. 20-28.

Sunday, Feb. 20

Officers were notified of a hit-and-run crash at 2:49 p.m. that had occurred at 12:14 p.m. in the Family Fresh parking lot (303 S. Main St.) between an unknown vehicle and a legally parked 2021 Mercedes C Class, owned by Jimmie M. Coulthard, River Falls. Police located video showing the Mercedes being struck by a silver four-door hatchback as it pulled into a parking spot along the Mercedes. The hatchback struck the Mercedes’ right-front corner, which was backed into its spot, causing minor damage. A plate number wasn’t visible on video; the driver is unknown.

Monday, Feb. 21

Police responded at 10:51 p.m. to the 400 block of West Johnson Street where another officer had located a stolen vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, from New Richmond. Police made contact with the driver, identified as Kayla L. Stewart, 32, who was uncooperative, got in the officer’s face and refused to turn over the keys. She gathered her belongings from the vehicle and entered the building. River Falls officers confirmed that New Richmond police wanted Stewart in custody for stealing the vehicle. When Stewart came back outside the building, police informed her she was under arrest and she attempted to run back into the building. As she continued resisting, they had to bring her to the ground in order to handcuff her. In her coat pocket, police located a glass jar containing a green leafy substance, a glass smoking device with burnt residue and two Gabapentin pills. Officers arrested her for felony take/drive vehicle without consent and transported her to St. Croix County Jail. Resisting or obstructing an officer, possession of THC and possess illegally obtained prescription charges were forwarded to Pierce County District Attorney. The vehicle was towed to the impound lot since Stewart refused to turn over the keys.

Tuesday, Feb. 22

Police responded to a onevehicle crash at 2:33 p.m. on Highway 35 at Highway 65. An officer came upon a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Michelle Marie Aide, 49, River Falls, stuck in the median at the exit ramp from Highway 35 onto Main Street. Aide said she was trying to stay in the lane leading onto Main Street when she hit an icy patch, slid into the median and struck a “Do not enter” sign. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Aide wore a seat belt and reported no injuries.

Wednesday, Feb. 23

Police and the coroner responded at 6:26 a.m. to 2665 Golf View Drive for a deceased woman, identified as Norma L. Smith, 83, who was lying in her bed. Nothing suspicious was noted.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7:35 a.m. on South Main Street just north of Cemetery Road between a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Rowena Mae Santos, 54, River Falls, and a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, driven by

Bobbie Jo Brodie, 51, River Falls. Both vehicles were traveling south on Main Street, with Brodie in front of Santos. Roads were slippery due to the recent snowfall. Southbound traffic was stopped at the traffic light, and both vehicles attempted to stop as well. Santos was unable to stop in time and struck the back of Brodie’s Jeep, which received no damage. Santos’ vehicle had minor damage. Both drivers and a 5-year-old passenger in Santos’ vehicle wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

At 10:09 p.m., an off-duty officer reported a person with a felony warrant was at St. Croix Lanes (1153 St. Croix St.) Once the failure to appear warrant was confirmed, police responded to the bowling alley and found Brianna Jade Lindquist, 22, River Falls, bowling. She cooperated with police and they transported her to St. Croix County Jail.

Thursday, Feb. 24

Police responded to a twovehicle crash at 8:13 a.m. on South Second Street just south of East Elm Street between a 2010 Mercedes MNR, driven by Jackson Lewis Cooper, 17, River Falls, and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Andrew Michael Johnson, 47, River Falls. Johnson was heading north on Second Street, just passing Walnut Street, and Cooper turned north onto Second Street behind Johnson. Johnson said he activated his turn signal to turn left into the parking lot of 103 S. Second St. Cooper said Johnson did not signal and he didn’t see that he was slowing to turn. Cooper struck the back-end of Johnson’s Jeep, which received functional damage. The Mercedes had disabling damage. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Friday, Feb. 25 Dexter Cameron Gottfredson, 29, River Falls, was arrested and cited $861 for OWI after a traffic stop at 2:04 a.m. in the 200 block of Lewis Street. Police witnessed Gottfredson’s vehicle lose traction on Second Street and drive with both sets of tires completely over the center line. When police pulled him over, Gottfredson smelled of alcohol, had glassy, bloodshot eyes and continuously fumbled with his driver’s license. He said he’d had four beers and consented to field sobriety tests, which he failed. He refused to take a Breathalyzer test; police took him to the station to complete booking. He was released into the care of a sober person.

Officers were called at 2:50 p.m. to 120 Lewis St. for a dispute between neighbors. The complainant said her neighbor appeared to be under the influence of something and had been acting erratically when confronting her about a laundry room dispute. Allegeldy, the suspect had gone into the laundry room in the middle of the night, found clothes in the washer and began banging on the equipment in anger. Police spoke with the suspect, who was highly emotional and erratic. He claimed he was worried for the safety of the complainant, who had been threatened by her husband. While speaking with him, police saw a glass pipe on his coffee table. He agreed to a Breathalyzer test, which registered a 0.414. Due to the high reading, EMS arrived and ultimately transported the suspect to the hospital, who was eventually released into the care of his father. A possess drug paraphernalia charge is pending. The complainant was told to call police if further issues arose and to contact the landlord about a laundry room schedule.

At 3:05 p.m., a resident reported a catalytic converter theft at 1457 Wildcat Court. The theft occurred on a 2003 Honda CRV sometime between 10 p.m. Feb. 21 and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22. There are no suspects.

Police responded to a twovehicle crash at 4:37 p.m. in the parking lot of 703 N. Main St. between a 2005 Dodge 2500, driven by Russell Paul Thomas, 20, River Falls, and a 2018 Buick Encore, driven by Echo Mariha Olson, 36, River Falls. Thomas was backing out of a parking space and stopped for another vehicle. Olson began pulling into the parking space directly next to Thomas, who did not see Olson and began backing out again. Thomas struck Olson’s passenger side, causing moderate/ functional damage. Thomas’ truck had no damage. Both drivers and Olson’s 10-year-old passenger wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Jake Lee Bettendorf, 17, River Falls, was cited $313 for violating the absolute sobriety law and $187 for underage drinking/possession after a traffic stop for running a red light at 10:48 p.m. at Main Street and Powell Avenue.

Saturday, Feb. 26

At 3:03 a.m., police responded to call at 127 S. Fourth St. where a juvenile reported feeling faint after drinking 15 bottles of beer. EMS transported him to the hospital where he was evaluated. He said he’d gone to two college house parties near his house, where he was given alcohol for free. He was later cited $187 for underage drinking/possession. Later that evening at 6:23 p.m., a complainant reported the juvenile as possibly missing, but he returned home at 10:48 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 27

At 1:42 a.m., police responded to Shooter’s Pub (107 E. Elm St.) where a person was refusing to leave the bar. Police made contact with the bar’s owner and the woman, identified as Rachel Kristine Kabanuk, 44, St. Paul, who was heavily intoxicated. Bar employees saw her drinking other patrons’ drinks and yelling at the dart board. The two people she was with left her behind when she sequestered herself in the bathroom for more than half an hour. When police arrived, she refused to call anyone to pick her up and didn’t have her driver’s license with her. Police brought her to ValuStay Inn, but they wouldn’t rent her a room because she didn’t have a license on her. Kabanuk became increasingly belligerent and profane, so police arrested her disorderly conduct and transported her to Pierce County Jail, where she was uncooperative.

At 2:25 a.m., a bouncer from Bold approached an officer on patrol and handed him two fake IDs he had confiscated.

Wade Michael Stuart,

20, Hudson, and Warner George Stuart, 20, Hudson, were both fined $187 for ID card violations (17-20).

Police responded at 8:56 a.m. to 798 Peregrine Circle for a vandalism complaint. Someone had let the air out of the complainant’s tires, who reported a man had kicked in the door the night before. The complainant said she and her boyfriend had been asleep the night before when they heard the doorbell chime around midnight. When the complainant opened the door, the complainant’s ex-husband, Jacque Howard Vezina, 42, River Falls, shoved his way into the house, used profanity and confronted the complainant’s boyfriend upstairs in the bedroom, hitting him in the face. When police made contact with Vezina, he admitted to entering the complainant’s home and hitting the man. He was heavily intoxicated and angry about the past divorce. He was arrested for domestic battery, domestic disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to dwelling and transported to Pierce County Jail.

Monday, Feb. 28

An anonymous complainant reported a possible domestic at 7:13 a.m. at 930 S. Main St. When police arrived, the man had left the scene and a woman had barricaded herself in an apartment by pushing a refrigerator in front of the door. After speaking to the woman and later the suspect, charges for criminal damage to property and domestic disorderly conduct charges were forwarded to the district attorney for the suspect. The woman declined to fill out a statement, but had a scratch on her cheek and an ice pack on her shoulder when police arrived. She said a friend would pick her up.

A 17-year-old Renaissance Academy student was cited $124 for habitual truancy at 1:56 p.m.