RIVER FALLS Police Department Reports

The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department Sept. 7-21.

Monday, Sept. 7

Officers were dispatched at 8:04 a.m. to Hoffman Park campground for a disturbance. A man said he had just witnessed a possible drug deal. When police arrived, one of the suspects told police that the complainant and his girlfriend had been arguing throughout the night about sex and cheating accusations. She accused him of sending her (also a camper) a picture of his genitalia. The couple, who said they are homeless, had two children in the tent with them. They agreed to settle down, but police were called back at 9:04 a.m. for the man allegedly shouting at his kids. The couple said they were working on finding a place to live in Minnesota. No arrests were made.

Steven Adam Wolfsteller, 37, River Falls, was arrested on a warrant at 10:13 a.m. at 618 Hazel St. He was also arrested for possess drug paraphernalia when police found a glass bubble pipe in his pocket, with residue that tested positive for meth. Police transported him to Pierce County Jail.

At 10:10 a.m., a complaint called police to report that another theft had occurred at 1660 Commerce Court (Dave’s Auto Transmission) and at Sears sometime between 1:43 a.m. and 3:46 a.m. Sept. 6. This time, the suspect was on camera taking microwaves and transfer cases and left a “crack pipe” behind. He also unhooked the camera’s wire. He drove a white two-door Ford Explorer with the rear plate covered. Upon reviewing video footage, officers agreed the man on camera was the same man they caught dumpster diving at UWRiver Falls recently. The suspect has been identified and the case is under investigation.

Jackson Louis Cooper, 17, River Falls, was cited $250 for failure to stop for a school bus, an incident that took place at 3:25 p.m. Sept. 3. Police received the complaint at 1:43 p.m. Sept. 7 from the RF Bus Garage.

At 5:23 p.m., a complainant reported his 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan stolen from 411 S. Wasson Lane. He last saw the vehicle in the parking lot at 7 p.m. Sept. 6. At 12:39 p.m. Sept. 8, the complainant called police to tell them he had found the vehicle and that nothing criminal had occurred.

Tuesday, Sept. 8

Officers were notified at 9:19 a.m. of a two-vehicle crash that had taken place at 7:55 a.m. Sept. 7 on Cascade Avenue just east of Oak Knoll Avenue between a parked tan, four-door sedan and a 2012 Toyota driven by Lyndon Patrick Wright II, 19, Somerset. Wright said he was parallel parking when he struck the unknown sedan’s rear passenger said; he left without reporting it. His vehicle had no damage and no one had reported a hit-and-run. Police gave him a warning.

Thomas Joshua O’Brien, 30, River Falls, was arrested for a Pierce County warrant at 12:41 p.m. while sitting in a parked vehicle near South Wasson Lane and Cascade Avenue. He was taken to the jail without incident.

Wednesday, Sept. 9

Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash at 8:35 a.m. in the 100 block of Emery Drive between a 2018 Ford Fusion, driven by Christian Dale Oxley, 44, River Falls, and a legally parked 2007 Dodge Caravan, owned by Raymond V. Egan, River Falls. A witness saw Oxley’s Ford strike the rear driver’s side of Egan’s van, then pull into a driveway at 131 Emory Drive. Police made contact with Oxley, who denied knowing he struck the van. His vehicle had minor damage on its front passenger side. He was cited $187 for hit and run – unattended vehicle. At 11:18 a.m., Lillian Pearl Evanoff, 17, River Falls, informed police she had side-swiped a vehicle in front of 214 W. Johnson St. with her 2005 Ford Taurus on her way to school that morning. She said the sun had been in her eyes. At 9:49 a.m.,

Hannah Katherine Markowski,

River Falls, reported someone had struck the rear of her 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix and left the scene. Both vehicles had functional damage and were not towed. Evanoff reported no injuries.

Amanda Kristine Ziebarth, 32, River Falls, was arrested on several felony warrants at 12:01 p.m. at 284 W. Johnson St. When the officer approached Ziebarth outside her home, she went into her garage and attempted to close the door, which the officer prevented. She was taken to Pierce County Jail without incident.

Grace Irene Haase, 19, River Falls, was cited $187 for an ID card violation at 7:09 p.m. at Dick’s Liquor (1141 S. Main St.) when she attempted to use a fake ID.

At 8 p.m. a resident reported finding a kitten in the 200 block of West Johnson Street. She attempted contact with someone on Facebook who had posted about a missing kitten, but never heard back. Police took the kitten; after receiving a rabies shot, they took it to River Bluffs Humane Society in Red Wing, Minn.

Thursday, Sept. 10

Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash at 8:54 a.m. at Main and Division streets between a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, operated by Theresa Ryan Gebhard, 46, Prescott, and a red sedan. Gebhard, who was headed north on Main Street, stopped in traffic due to a stoplight. The red sedan struck her Suburban’s back-end, causing minor damage, but did not stop. The driver was a man in his 20s or 30s, with longish brown hair. Gebhard and her juvenile passenger wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

At 10:08 a.m., River Falls High School staff reported a bike that had been left on the school’s front lawn for three days. The bike is a white Next Plush, Mega Light with 14 speeds. Police put it into bike storage.

At 11:40 a.m., RFHS staff reported vandalism to the boy’s bathroom in the C wing. Video surveillance showed a group of boys going in and out of the bathroom. Staff identified one 16-year-old student, who denied having a part in the vandalism. When asked to empty his pockets, two vaporizers fell out. Cigarettes were found in the student’s backpack. The juvenile was cited $73.60 for minor possesses or purchases nicotine/tobacco.

James William Flicek, 20, Princeton, Minn., was fined $250 for fail/stop for unloading school bus. At 1:17 p.m., dispatch reported that Flicek had failed to stop for an unloading bus at Cemetery and South Ridge roads. Flicek said he didn’t see the bus.

Brooklynn Marie Casadecalvo,

20, River Falls, was cited $187 for an ID card violation after attempting to purchase alcohol with a fake ID at 2:16 p.m. at Dick’s Hometown Liquor (1141 S. Main St.) Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3:35 p.m. at Cascade Avenue and South Wasson Lane between a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by

Jacob Harlan Landgraf, 18, River Falls, and a 2006 Toyota Corolla, driven by Briana Jo Petersen, 23, River Falls. Landgraf was stopped at the stop sign on Wasson Lane at Cascade facing southbound, behind another vehicle. Petersen was stopped at the stop sign on Wasson Lane at Cascade, facing northbound and indicating a left-hand turn. After the third vehicle went south through the intersection, Petersen began to turn left and Landgraf also proceeded into the intersection and they collided, resulting in disabling front-end damage on both vehicles. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Landgraf was cited for fail/yield right/way from stop sign.

At 10:06 p.m., a caller reported a theft from his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, which was parked at Dave’s Auto and Transmission (1597 Commerce Court) for repairs. When he drove by at 5 p.m., his truck was fine. When he drove by at 9:30 p.m., he saw his muffler hanging down, his catalytic converter missing and his hubcap gone.

Saturday, Sept. 11 Ethan James Walker, 19, River Falls, was cited $124 for operating while suspended after a traffic stop at 12:40 a.m. at Main and Division streets for turning with no turn signal.

Dusty James Wiley Harren, 20, Prairie Farm, was cited $187 for an ID card violation after attempting to purchase alcohol with a fake ID at 8:27 p.m. at Dick’s Hometown Liquor (1141 S. Main St.) Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 10:55 p.m. at the Highway 65/Cemetery Road roundabout between a 2004 Buick Lesabre, driven by Levi Samuel Tyreese Goplen, 17, Ellsworth, and a 2019 Volkswagen Passat, driven by Jared M. Weinfurtner, 32, Lauderdale, Minn. Goplen was traveling northbound on Highway 65 and entered the roundabout, while Weinfurtner was heading eastbound on Cemetery Road, entered the roundabout and struck Goplen’s driver’s side. Goplen said Weinfurtner had come into his lane, while Weinfurtner said Goplen came into his lane. Weinfurtner, who smelled of alcohol, passed field sobriety tests. Both drivers wore seat belts and reported no injuries. Both vehicles had minor damage.

Sunday, Sept. 12

Officers responded at 12:14 a.m. to a home in the 1000 block of East Cascade where a juvenile was attacking the juvenile’s mother and sibling. The juvenile allegedly hit the mom with a charging cord and punched the sibling in the back. The incident was referred to Pierce County Child Services.

Mario F. Corea Rodriguez, 42, Madison, was arrested and cited for operating without valid license (third offense) after a traffic stop at 7:45 a.m. at Kwik Trip North for failing to use a turn signal and brake lights not working.

Monday, Sept. 13

Officers responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash at 12:18 p.m. at Main and Pomeroy streets between Douglas Lee Hultman, 53, River Falls, who was on a bike, and a 2010 Ford, driven by Judith Ann Baschnagel, 75, River Falls. Hultman was riding a bike at a high rate of speed heading northbound on the North Main Street sidewalk. He entered the crosswalk at North and Pomeroy suddenly, as Baschnagel was beginning to turn right, and she struck him. Hultman wore no helmet; EMS transported him to River Falls Area Hospital with suspected minor injuries. Baschnagel, who wore a seat belt, reported no injuries. Her vehicle had minor damage.

At 2:30 p.m., police received a report about stolen vehicle parts at 555 N. Main St. The complainant said she parked in the lot at 2:45 p.m. Sept. 12. When she returned to the vehicle at 8 a.m. Sept. 13, she saw a large puddle beneath the vehicle. When she started the vehicle, it made a loud noise. The catalytic converter had been stolen.

Officers responded at 9:06 p.m. to 900 Orange St. for an intoxicated man who had been receiving treatment at Kinnic Falls ADA Services. The 20year-old man was belligerent, uncooperative and unwilling to do a breathalyzer. He continued to insult staff and started insulting officers, alternated with crying. He insisted officers take him home to Minnesota. When he couldn’t get anyone in his phone contact list to agree to come pick him up, he took a fighting stance toward an officer and threatened to kill the officer, then himself. He requested to go to Mercy Hospital and became enraged when an officer said he could be taken to River Falls Area Hospital. At the hospital, he made contact with Northwest Connections, who couldn’t do a full assessment due to his intoxication level. A PBT registered a reading of .174. After further verbal wrangling and allowing him to sleep, around 2:45 a.m. officers took him the Glen Park shelter and gave him resources for homelessness.

Tuesday, Sept. 14

At 8:31 a.m., a resident at 123 W. Park St. reported theft of items from a vehicle. Someone had gone through the glove box and center console and taken five to 10 CDs. The vehicle was believed to be unlocked.

At 3:44 p.m., police responded to Chippewa Valley Technical College (500 S. Wasson Lane) for a stolen front license plate. Both license plates screws were also missing.

Officers responded at 5:07 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash at Meyer Middle School (230 N. Ninth St.) between a 2005 Ford F150, driven by Justin Lee Green, 41, River Falls, and a 2020 Cadillac CTS, driven by Ali Lea Massa, 44, River Falls. Both vehicles were there picking up kids, with Massa behind Green. Green began backing up and did not see Massa’s vehicle, striking it’s front end. His vehicle had no damage, while Massa’s had moderate damage. Neither driver nor their passengers reported injuries.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

At 7:15 a.m., a resident reported receiving online threats from the leader of a virtual game room. The leader also posted threats, such as slitting throats, on a YouTube channel. The resident wanted the threats documented.

Officers responded at 11:46 a.m. to 407 S. Wasson Lane for a fight in progress between two men. Witnesses reported that one man confronted another man, who was sitting in a car with a child. The aggressor, later identified as Josha Tyler Smith-Larson, 25, River Falls, allegedly confronted the man for sitting in his grandmother’s car, which he had given to a woman to use. He retrieved a screwdriver and slashed a tire before leaving the scene. Police informed him he would be cited for disorderly conduct when they reached him by phone later. A charge is also under review by the district attorney.

At 1:09 p.m., a resident reported finding open packages on a walking path behind 539 S. Wasson Lane. It appeared the packages had been taken from the apartment building, gone through and discarded. Officers contacted two people listed on the packages and returned the items to them, which included clothing and jewelry. Nothing was missing.

Police responded to a minor hitand- run at 5:22 p.m. in the 1163 N. Main St. parking lot between an unknown vehicle and a legally parked 2014 Chevrolet Impala, owned by

Arlo Flex Lallier, 16, River Falls. A red/brown SUV struck Lallier’s vehicle while he was in Ace Hardware, leaving minor damage to the left-side middle.

At 9:29 p.m., a caller reported a pickup all over the road coming toward River Falls from Hudson on Highway 35. Officers located the Ford F250 and witnessed it cross the center line twice while heading south on Main Street. Police pulled over

Stephen Roy Jensen, 48, River Falls, near Summit Street. Since Jensen smelled of intoxicants, police had him perform field sobriety tests, which he failed. He told police he’d had four beers at work in Oakdale, Minn. Officers transported him to River Falls Area Hospital for a blood test, then to St. Croix County Jail where he was booked for OWI-fourth.

Thursday, Sept. 16

At 1:05 p.m., an officer picked up an abandoned gray and purple Genesis Whirl bicycle at 503 N. Fremont St. A lock was attached to the bike’s frame. Police placed the bike in storage.

At 6:41 p.m., police responded to 1211 Meadowbrook Lane, where a yellow Lab was found in the complainant’s yard bleeding from the right side of its head. The dog had a collar but no tags or microchip. After receiving vet clearance, an officer took the dog to the Humane Society in Red Wing, Minn.

Friday, Sept. 17

At 8:48 a.m., police received a complaint about a juvenile walking along Highway 35 near Main Street amidst heavy traffic. Police attempted contact with the juvenile several times on the highway, near Arrow Building Center, on Radio Road and in Sterling Ponds; each time the juvenile walked away. When the juvenile again approached Highway 35, the juvenile dropped a backpack and ran. Officers identified the juvenile from supplies found in the backpack and confirmed with the school that that juvenile was absent; in fact, the juvenile’s parents were looking for them, since they had hit their head the day before and had been acting strangely. Officers eventually took the juvenile into custody when they fled into the woods near Glover Road. The juvenile didn’t know their name or where they were. Police transported them to River Falls Area Hospital for a possible head injury.

Joel Thomas Hunt, 23, River Falls, was arrested for a Dunn County warrant at 7:01 p.m. at 122 W. Cascade Ave. Officers transported him to Pierce County Jail without incident.

At 10:32 p.m., police were called to an area behind 511 S. Wasson Lane for suspected drug complaint. Officers found two people in a parked vehicle smoking a blunt. The blunt and a small amount of marijuana were confiscated. The duo received warnings and were told not to drive, since both had suspended driving statuses.

Saturday, Sept. 18

At 1:24 a.m., officers responded to 311 Foster St. for a possible home invasion. The home’s occupants had returned home to find a pair of shoes they didn’t recognize. Their dogs were also barking at something in the basement. Tanner Joseph Larson, 18, River Falls, was found sleeping on the floor in the basement. He was heavily intoxicated and incoherent. Police were finally able to ascertain that he had been at a party near Elm and Sycamore streets. He was given a courtesy ride to his dorm and cited $187 for criminal trespass to dwelling and $187 for underage drinking.

Officers responded at 9:18 p.m. to 411 River Hills Road, where a dog had bitten a guest during a housewarming party. A Lab/Rottweiler mix bit a guest’s hand, for which she went to the hospital. Police gave the dog’s owner quarantine paperwork.

At 11:39 p.m., police responded to a home in the 1000 block of East Cascade Avenue for a juvenile who had found a key at First National Bank of River Falls Field, unlocked a trailer and stolen six Vizzy Hard Seltzer cans. The complainant had located four; another was located outside the juvenile’s window; another half-full can was in the juvenile’s bedroom. Officers also confiscated a vape from the bedroom. Underage drinking and theft charges were forwarded to Pierce County Juvenile Services.