The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department Aug. 1-9, 2025.

Friday, Aug. 1

Police responded at 8:22 p.m. to Kwik Trip (1536 Cemetery Road) for someone who tried to buy a 12-pack of Twisted Tea Light with a fake ID. Noah David Matzek, 18, Hager City, was cited $187 for the ID card violation.

Sunday, Aug. 3

• Officers arrested Mark Bryant Thompson, 48, New Richmond, for OWI-third, vehicle operator flee/elude officer and operating after revocation after leading officers on a pursuit through River Falls at 2:50 a.m. Police first saw Thompson speeding and swerving in his traffic lane near Division and Pearl streets. When officers turned around to follow him, he tried to evade them by speeding through stop signs, the wrong way down a one-way street and by turning corners. Officers eventually caught up with him near Radio Road and Powell Drive, where he expressed frustration that his truck wasn’t faster. He and his passenger, Michael Douglas Whitman, 27, smelled heavily of intoxicants and were slurring their speech. Thompson vacillated between being apologetic and angry, frequently expressing anger that his truck didn’t outrun the cops. He refused to perform field sobriety tests and became resistive at the hospital during a blood draw, acting like he was going to tackle an officer. His wife was allowed to move his truck while he was transported to Pierce County Jail. He was also cited $98.80 for driving against traffic (one way street), $187 for possess open intoxicants in motor vehicle – driver, $98.80 for speeding on city highway, $98.80 for fail/stop at stop sign and $850 for OWI.
• Spencer David Lee, 25, River Falls, was arrested for a probation violation after a traffic stop at 2:37 a.m. at Main Street and Paulson Road. Lee admitted to drinking while on probation and had a bottle of tequila in his back seat. He was also cited $187 for possess open intoxicants in motor vehicle – driver. Police transported him to Pierce County Jail.
• At 1:09 p.m., police were called to Walgreen’s (1047 N. Main St.) for a 93-year-old woman who was driving after her license had been taken away. She was angry police stopped her and said she’d done nothing wrong. Her family was notified and informed officers they were taking away the car and hiding the keys.
• Police responded to a hit and run crash at 1:43 p.m. that occurred in front of 525 N. Pearl St. An unknown vehicle driving the wrong way on Pearl struck a legally parked 2001 Dodge 2500, owned by Gavin Craig Johnson, River Falls. The neighbor recalled hearing two vehicles driving the wrong way down the street around 2:30 a.m. Johnson’s truck had minor damage.
• Officers were dispatched to a domestic at 9:02 p.m. at 617 Lake St. where a couple were alleged to have fought over a document. The woman had visible scratch marks on her body while the man had no signs of injury. The woman’s sister’s story also matched hers when police separated everyone for interviews. Police arrested Michael Donavin Erlitz, 30, River Falls, for domestic battery and domestic disorderly conduct. He was transported to Pierce County Jail.

Monday, Aug. 4

• Police were dispatched at 7:46 a.m. to 519 N. Dallas St. for an unlawful disposal complaint. Someone had left a faux leather couch in poor condition on the complainant’s front lawn without permission.
• Officers were notified of a stolen bicycle at 4:17 p.m. The complainant, who lives at 360 Broadway St., said the bike had been stolen from there the night prior. During his lunchbreak, he located the bike, which had been spraypainted extensively, at a complex at 237 Broadway St. The bike’s owner was able to confirm it was his bike due to different parts and marks on the frame.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Officers responded at 9:19 a.m. to 1510 Cemetery Road for an unwanted subject who possibly had a gun. Police learned a woman had allowed a friend of a friend, who had been couch-surfing, to possibly stay with her and her roommate. When Richard Thomas Bandow, 42, North Branch, Minn., was dropped off and realized his cellphone wasn’t with him, he became frantic. His behavior escalated and he threatened to break into a car at Kwik Trip and talked about having a gun. The women, afraid of his behavior, barricaded themselves in their apartment and called police when they heard yelling outside. Police located Bandow in the apartment’s laundry room. In his belongings, which he let police search, they found a BB gun pistol that looked like a real gun, a knife, meth, syringes and drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Bandow, who admitted to taking meth the day prior, for disorderly conduct, possession of methamphetamine and possess drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Pierce County Jail after medical clearance at the hospital.

Thursday, Aug. 7

• Police were dispatched to a vehicle vs. bicyclist crash at 12:33 p.m. at Pine and Second streets. Dyllan Grathwol, 14, River Falls, was riding a bicycle west on Pine Street, entered the intersection and was struck by a 2016 GMC Terrain, driven by Marilyn Jean Anderson, 79, River Falls. Witnesses said that Grathwol and Anderson couldn’t see each other due to other vehicles being in the way. Grathwol, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, had suspected minor injuries but wasn’t transported. Anderson reported no injuries.
• Officers responded at 9:41 p.m. to Hoffman Park (547 Hanson Drive) for a juvenile complaint. A witness saw two juveniles in a white Jeep drive into the parking lot and smash a glass bottle. Police located the suspects and cited a 17-year-old River Falls juvenile $124 for parks – littering.

Friday, Aug. 8

• Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 4:01 p.m. at Second and Maple streets between a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, driven by Hannah Grace Rademacher, 25, Hammond, and a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, driven by James Lavern Olson, 65, River Falls. Both vehicles were traveling south on Second Street when Rademacher rear-ended Olson, who had slowed to turn into the River Falls Post Office parking lot. The Subaru was towed due to disabling damage, while the Jeep had minor damage. Rademacher reported possible injuries but wasn’t transported. Olson reported no injuries. Rademacher was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving.
• Officers were asked to check on a possible break-in at 5:04 p.m. at 102 N. Fourth St. Police cleared the residence and found no one inside; however, they located a damaged dead bolt. The residents said they’d left the home around 9 a.m. and returned to find the door ajar and the bolt broken. They weren’t sure if they any property was missing.

Saturday, Aug. 9

Police were dispatched at 2:11 a.m. to Mel’s Midtowner (111 S. Main St.) for a man laying behind the bar. The man was breathing and woke up when shaken; he was highly intoxicated and said he’d had too much fun at the bars. Theo Yeabsira Syverson, 20, River Falls, was cited $313 for an ID card violation and $187 for underage drinking. He declined a courtesy ride home; his fake ID was confiscated.