RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports

The following incidents were reported to the River Falls Police Department Feb. 11-21.

Friday, Feb. 11

Police responded to a twovehicle crash at 9 a.m. on Highway 35 one-quarter mile north of Highway 65 between a 2002 Ford Explorer, driven by Gabrielle Ann Lamotte, 19, Star Prairie, and a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by

Charles Wyoming Leighty Troester, 33, St. Paul. Both vehicles were traveling south on Highway 35 approaching the Main Street exit ramp. Lamotte was trying to merge into the far-right lane and lost control due to slippery conditions. Her vehicle struck Troester’s vehicle, causing functional damage to both. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 9:24 a.m. at Paulson Road and Main Street between a 2005 Ford F150, driven by Amber Lea Perry, 20, River Falls, and a 2014 Dodge Journey, driven by Jenny Lou Ellison, 36, River Falls. Perry was heading south on Main Street, turning right onto Paulson Road. Ellison was on Paulson Road, approaching the Main Street intersection. Perry lost control while turning. The back of her vehicle kicked out and struck the left front corner of Ellison’s vehicle. Perry’s vehicle had minor damage, while Ellison’s sustained disabling damage and had to be towed. Both drivers and a 12-year-old passenger in Ellison’s vehicle wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 Matthew Paul Hiniker,

was arrested and cited $861 for OWI, $861 for operating with PAC and $98.80 for speeding on city highway after a traffic stop at 12:34 a.m. for speeding 45 mph in a 25-mph zone at Main and Unions streets. Upon contact, police smelled intoxicants and Hiniker’s speech was slow and his eyes glassy. When police asked him why he’d been swerving, he said he’d been on the phone. He consented to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed. He registered a 0.15 BAC.

A 14-year-old juvenile was cited $92.50 for habitual truancy (under 16) at 2:37 p.m. at River Falls High School (818 Cemetery Road). The student was truant six times between Jan. 13 and Feb. 16.

Thursday, Feb. 17

At 9:01 a.m., a complainant reported the theft of a catalytic converter from a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe that had been parked overnight midnight to 7 a.m. in the Heritage Park parking lot.

At 4:45 p.m., a complainant reported a catalytic converter theft from a 2008 Kia Optima that had been parked in front of 316 Lewis St. The theft occurred between midnight at 4:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 18

Police responded to a disturbance in progress at 11:02 p.m. at 113 ½ N. Main St. An intoxicated man allegedly waved a Taser at his daughter when she came to pick up her child, who he was babysitting while she was at work. The complainant said her grandmother and father were watching her daughter, but had become very intoxicated and were threatening to keep her daughter. When she arrived from her job in St. Paul, he refused to give the child back. Police attempted communication with the man for about 45 minutes through the apartment door and by phone before they called the fire department to come open the door. At one point, police saw the man at the top of the apartment stairs holding a taser. The grandmother refused to come out and said she didn’t believe the police were actually police. After officers gained entry to the building, the complainant was allowed to retrieve her daughter. Police left but contacted probation and an arrest warrant for the father was issued.

Saturday, Feb. 19

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:44 p.m. in the parking lot at 237 Broadway St. between a 2022 Kia Seltos, driven by Mattea Catherine Urbia, 21, Farmington, Minn., and a legally parked 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, owned by Madelyn Jean Schmidt, 22, River Falls. Urbia was backing out of a parking spot and struck Schmidt’s Malibu, which received no damage. Urbia’s vehicle had minor damage. No injuries were reported.

Sunday, Feb. 20

Police responded to a hitand- run crash at 3:04 a.m. on Riverside Drive just north of Oak Ridge Drive. An unknown vehicle was traveling east on Riverside Drive when it struck two vehicles that were legally parked: A 2013 Buick Verano, owned by Sophie Kathryn Keith, River Falls, and a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro, owned by Michael P. Vining, Benton, Ala. After striking the parked vehicles, the unknown vehicle kept going and didn’t stop. Witnesses described the fleeing vehicle as a 1995 or 1996 olive green Chevrolet shortbed truck. Both vehicles had minor damage.

Officers responded to a vehicle vs. fence crash at 10:45 a.m. in the parking lot of Ace Hardware (1163 N. Main St.) A 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Richard Anthony Pechacek, 74, River Falls, collided with a fence multiple times. Pechacek appeared disoriented and unable to operate the vehicle. An ambulance transported him to the hospital for further evaluation. The vehicle had minor damage.

Monday, Feb. 21

Officers were called at 2:44 a.m. to Kwik Trip (1200 S. Main St.) for a possible altercation in the parking lot. An employee reported people from two vehicles had been arguing in the parking lot and everyone appeared to be intoxicated. They soon left and headed north on Main Street. Police eventually located both suspect vehicles and interviewed the occupants. One vehicle was located and pulled over at Main and Charlotte streets; the other was located in the parking lot of 218 W. Charlotte St. A disagreement had occurred between acquaintances after a night out at the bars about where one girl was going to spend the night. Vivan Marie Tulgren, 19, Clear Lake, was arrested and cited $861 for operating with PAC after failing field sobriety tests. She registered a 0.1 BAC.

A 17-year-old juvenile was cited $73.60 for minor possesses or purchases tobacco/nicotine at 8:16 a.m. at River Falls High School (818 Cemetery Road). A teacher had caught the juvenile holding a vape in the bathroom at 1:36 p.m. Feb. 18.

At 11:22 a.m., a complainant reported a catalytic converter theft from a 2006 Chevrolet Express van at 211 Powell Ave. The theft occurred sometime between 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17.