RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports

The following incidents were reported to the River Falls Police Department Oct. 12-26.

Tuesday, Oct. 12

At 4 p.m., officers responded to 218 W. Charlotte St. #11 to meet with the property manager about an alleged burglary. He reported the empty apartment had been vandalized. Items were scattered everywhere and looked like people were looking for something. The tenant recently died and the manager had kicked out squatters the same day the resident had gone to the hospital, on Oct. 4. When the property manager left for work at 4:30 a.m. Oct. 12, the apartment was in order. When he returned at 3:30 p.m., he found the apartment in disarray. A Samsung TV and cable box were missing. The officer also located a used needle on the floor. A possible suspect was identified from a photo taken near the building’s rear door.

At 6:19 p.m., police were called to Verizon Wireless (705 N. Main St., Suite C) for a disturbance. A man inside the store had smashed his phone on the counter, resulting in shattered glass and blood on the counter. He was upset his phone couldn’t be replaced with an insurance claim. Police identified the suspect from a license plate number as Michael Lyle Gerard, 56, Ellsworth. He was served a trespass notice from the store.

Monday, Oct. 18

On Oct. 18, police responded to a property damage complaint at 1629 Valley Quail Drive, a new home construction. The project manager said his crew had poured concrete along the residence’s south side for a walkway leading to a patio on Oct. 15. On Oct. 18, he found the concrete chipped and swear words etched into it. He also located a pick near the patio. The repair estimate is $2,000.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

At 11:46 a.m., officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on West Pomeroy Street near North Main Street between a 2007 Toyota Corolla, driven by Brooke Lorraine Hansen, 37, Somerset, and a 2015 Ford Taurus, driven by Noah Brien Stewart, 18, River Falls. Hansen said she was turning into the second driveway into Culver’s (with her turn signal activated) when Stewart tried to pass her on the left and struck her vehicle. Stewart said Hansen had pulled toward the right side of the road like she was going to park there, and had no turn signal activated, so he went to pass her on the left and she abruptly pulled into the Culver’s driveway, hitting his vehicle. No citations were issued. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. The Corolla had functional damage, while the Taurus received minor damage.

At 4:29 p.m., police responded to 427 W. Division St., where a neighbor reported seeing a man lying on the floor in his house. She had been asked by the resident’s son to check on his father as he hadn’t heard from him since Oct. 16. The man was found deceased from what appeared to be natural causes.

On Oct. 19, an officer responded to 507 Linden St. where someone had taken Halloween decorations off the front porch. A skeleton and Frankenstein statue were stolen sometime after the weekend. The total loss is about $60.

Wednesday, Oct. 20

At 1:26 p.m., a complainant reported a car alarm going off near Kennedy and Spruce streets. Someone could be seen near the vehicle with a flashlight. Police identified the driver as

Adam Bain, 25, Minneapolis. He said he was lost and trying to find Kinnic Falls on Orange Street, but he’d lost his keys in the car and was trying to find them to shut the alarm off. He also admitted to drinking vodka in the car and showed police the bottle, which was stowed in a tackle box. He showed numerous signs of impairment. He failed field sobriety tests and registered a .22 PBT. Police arrested Bain and cited him $861 for OWI and $861 for operating with PAC. He was eventually transported to Pierce County Jail.

Officers responded at 7:35 a.m. to 209 Foster St. for a domestic incident in progress. Joseph Michael Prantner, 37, Red Wing, Minn., was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct, criminal trespass to dwelling and misdemeanor bail jumping. He had entered the residence without permission while people were sleeping. They were afraid when they woke up and found him there.

Police were notified of a possible hit-and-run crash at 2:27 p.m. Oct. 20 that was suspected to have occurred on Oct. 18 in the Culver’s parking lot. A 2015 Buick Encore, driven by Lois M. Huppert, 69, River Falls, had been legally parked at Culver’s for about 30-45 minutes beginning at 12:30 p.m. Huppert’s husband noticed minor damage to the rear bumper on Oct. 20. She didn’t know where else the damage could have occurred. There are no suspects.

Thursday, Oct. 21

At 4:24 p.m., an officer responded to a property damage complaint at 1732 Windflower St. When the complainant woke up that morning, the mailbox and its stand were cracked and damaged. The post replacement was estimated to cost $20. There are no suspects.

At 4:30 p.m., the River Falls Bus Garage reported an illegal passing of school bus incident that had occurred at 3:57 p.m. Oct. 19 while the bus was stopped (with flashing lights and stop arm extended) at Cemetery and Southridge roads. Joseph Daniel Janus, 23, De Pere, was cited $250 for failure to stop by school bus.

Friday, Oct. 22

Officers responded at 12:33 a.m. to 1078 N. Main St. for a domestic in progress where a man was outside screaming. When police arrived, police found a man in the doorway wearing a knee brace and bandage on his left knee and foot. He also had multiple red marks on this arm and back, consistent with being hit with his crutches as he claimed happened. Angela Jo Hoisington, 38, River Falls, was arrested for domestic battery and taken to St. Croix County Jail.

At 8:30 a.m., police responded to 715 S. Main St. for a smashed rear car window. The car had been parked behind the residence. The window damage occurred sometime between 7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 8:15 a.m. Oct. 22. The damage was estimated to cost $500; a suspect was identified.

Stephanie Forward, 45, Menomonie, was arrested for a felony warrant and possess drug paraphernalia at 2:23 p.m. at the Valu Stay Inn. Police also confiscated two baggies of a white, crystal-like substance, needles and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to St. Croix County Jail.

Police responded to a three-vehicle crash at 6:46 p.m. on North Main Street near Mound View Road between a 2021 Subaru Outback, driven by Donna Jo Hjelmstad, 53, Ankeny, Iowa; a 2007 Ford Explorer, driven by Kyle Michael Baca, 29, Hudson; and a 2007 Ford Ranger, driven by John Paul Kolars, 16, River Falls. Hjelmstad was facing south on North Main Street; she had stopped and was waiting to turn right into the driveway at 709 N. Main St. Kolars rear-ended Baca, who in turn rearended Hjelmstad. All drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. A passenger in Hjelmstad’s vehicle, Alexis Christine Raihle, 26, Bloomer, also wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. A 15-year-old passenger in Kolars’ vehicle wore a seat belt and reported no injuries. Kolars was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving.

At 3:26 p.m., a Positive Alternatives (2860 Williams Ave.) employee reported a 14-year-old juvenile had not returned home after school. The juvenile had called and said they missed the bus and would be home by 7 p.m., but the juvenile was not supposed to go anywhere after school. The juvenile still had not returned at 11:30 p.m. The employee called again at 8:33 a.m. Oct. 25 and said the juvenile had not returned to Positive Alternatives all weekend, but had reported to school. The juvenile’s social worker was informed.

Saturday, Oct. 23 Tyrell James Hoyer, 42, Spring Valley, was arrested and cited $861 for OWI and $98.80 for speeding on city highway after a traffic stop for speeding at 12:33 a.m. near Parkview Lane and East Division Street. When police made contact, he smelled of intoxicants and had glassy, bloodshot eyes. He failed field sobriety tests and registered a .134 PBT. After being booked at the police department, he was released to a sober party.

At 8:30 a.m. police responded to 703 N. Main St. for a welfare check. A man had been walking around DeVine Liquor for about 30 minutes and was making people uncomfortable. Police found the man across the street at BP, where he was identified as

Shawn Michael Krasky, 41, River Falls. He was arrested on a New Richmond warrant and taken to St. Croix County Jail.

Lucas Scott Thompson, 24, Prescott, was arrested for OWI after a traffic stop for loud exhaust and speeding at 9:50 p.m. in the Family Fresh parking lot (303 S. Main St.) The vehicle also had modified wheels and tires. Thompson and a passenger were heading to Broz Bar from Prescott. The vehicle smelled of intoxicants and Thompson had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech. Thompson failed field sobriety tests and registered a .176 PBT. Police arrested him and cited him $861 for OWI, $861 for operating with PAC and $124 for operate motor vehicle without insurance. He was released to a sober party.

Sunday, Oct. 24 Laura Jayne Lindgren, 20, River Falls, was cited $187 for an ID card violation after attempting to enter Shooter’s Pub (107 E. Elm St.) with a fake ID.

At 11:45 a.m., a complainant reported having problems with a stalker breaking windows on her house and leaving notes on the porch at a residence in the 500 block of East Maple Street. A suspect was identified. The case remains under investigation.

An officer responded to the UW-River Falls “Y”parking lot to assist UWRF police with an arrest at 2:50 a.m. Olivia Marie Dolan, 20, Prescott, was arrested for violating absolute sobriety. The River Falls officer assisted with administering an intoximeter.

At 10:03 a.m., an officer responded to 227 N. Fourth St. to take a theft complaint. The resident had a Walmart package delivered to the residence, but someone had removed the contents from the package. The package had been on the porch just over an hour and contained an Apple USB Superdrive, valued at $77.

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:08 p.m. on North Main Street near Quarry Road between a 2000 Chevrolet GMT400, driven by Emily Louise Hoffman, 21, Mahtomedi, Minn., and a 2021 Chevrolet Trax, driven by Hailey Jo Scheff, 20, Blaine, Minn. Hoffman was stopped in traffic when Scheff rearended her. Scheff stated she was eating cookie dough, dropped some in her lap and looked down. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Both vehicles had minor damage. Scheff was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving.

Monday, Oct. 25

Officers responded at 2:13 a.m. to 141 W. Cascade Ave. for a disturbance allegedly caused by an intoxicated woman who was trying to drive away from the residence with children in the vehicle. The complainant reported the intoxicated woman striking her and becoming upset when she couldn’t find her car keys. The two had been at the downtown bars. The complainant declined pressing charges, but wanted the other woman out of her house. Police gave the intoxicated woman, who is from St. Paul, and her two children a courtesy ride to the police department, where a sober party picked them up.

At 6:40 p.m., an officer responded to 3464 Aberdeen Place for a property damage complaint. A man said one of his truck tires, valued at $450, had been cut. A suspect was identified.

At 9:48 p.m. police responded to the area of Glen Park for an attempted vehicle break-in involving four male suspects. When the complainant confronted them, they ran toward the Swinging Bridge. About 10 minutes later, police found one suspect, a 16year-old Bloomington, Minn., boy at Holiday. After denying involvement at first, the juvenile, who was listed as a runaway, admitted to the attempted break-in. Cigars, a vape pen and lighter found on the boy were destroyed. Police took him to the police station to wait for his father to pick him up; his father stated he had run away a week prior. While waiting, police transported the boy to River Falls Area Hospital for an evaluation; the boy said he’d fallen when fleeing the complainant, had struck his head and lost consciousness. He said a second juvenile, a 16year-old Brainerd boy (also a runaway), had also fallen. Police did not locate that juvenile. Police reached another suspect, a 17-year-old River Falls male, by phone. The last suspect, a 15year-old Hudson boy, was found on foot near Holiday. After searching the Glen Park area extensively, the Brainerd boy was not located. No charges were filed in the case.

Tuesday, Oct. 26

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7:23 a.m. in the South Wasson Lane and Cemetery Road roundabout between a 2020 BMW 230XI, driven by Barbara A. Rasmussen, 71, River Falls, and a 2006 Toyota Sienna, driven by Olivia Gretchen Dunham, 16, River Falls. Rasmussen said she was heading east on Cemetery Road when she entered the roundabout and was “bumped.” Dunham was already in the roundabout and couldn’t stop in time. Rasmussen was cited $98.80 for failure to yield right of way in a roundabout.