The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department Dec. 2-11, 2025.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

• Officers responded to a theft report at 3:42 p.m. at Kwik Trip (1238 N. Main St.) Employees saw on surveillance that a woman took five boxes of Mucinex from the pharmacy aisle, went into the bathroom, then left the store without purchasing anything. The Mucinex nor its packaging were not found in the bathroom. Police identified the suspect as Kimberly M. Huldane, 64, Prescott. She has been trespassed from other local businesses for stealing Mucinex. When police called her, she admitted to the theft and said she’s addicted to Mucinex. She was cited $187 for retail theft – intentionally take and trespassed from Kwik Trip.
• Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 4:22 p.m. at Main and Summit streets between a 2023 Chevy Traverse, driven by Jennifer Lynn Karras, 52, River Falls, and a 2015 Toyota Corolla, driven by a 17-year-old Blaine, Minn. juvenile. Both vehicles were heading northbound on Main Street when Karras slowed for congested traffic. The juvenile said he couldn’t stop in time and rear-ended her. The Traverse had minor damage, while the Toyota had functional damage. No injuries were reported.

Wednesday, Dec. 3

• Police responded at 7:53 a.m. to 1822 Morning Glory Drive where a vehicle hit an electrical box and left the scene. Tire tracks showed that vehicle lost control attempting to negotiate a curve, slid across the driveway of 1820 Morning Glory Drive and into the front yard of 1814, where it struck a plastic Xfinity box and left. A neighbor said she heard a loud bang at 6:45 a.m. but didn’t see the vehicle.
• Officers were dispatched to a four-vehicle crash at 3:13 p.m. on State Road 65 just south of the State Road 29/Cascade Avenue intersection between a 2013 Ford F150, driven by Karl Burt Fleury, 65, River Falls; a 2015 Cadillac SRX, driven by a 16-year-old Hudson juvenile; a 2015 Chevy Equinox, driven by a 17-year-old River Falls juvenile; and a 2016 Mazda CX5, driven by a 16-year-old River Falls juvenile. All four vehicles were heading north on Highway 65 when Fleury stopped due to traffic congestion. The Cadillac rear-ended him, then the Equinox rear-ended the Cadillac, then the Mazda rear-ended the Equinox. The Ford F150 had minor damage, while the Cadillac, Equinox and Mazda were towed due to disabling damage. Fleury reported possible injuries but was not transported. His 15-year-old juvenile passenger had suspected minor injuries but was not transported. The drivers of the Cadillac, Equinox and Mazda all reported possible injuries, along with a 15-year-old Equinox passenger, but were not transported.
• Police performed a welfare check on a 62-year-old man at 3:58 p.m. at 200 ½ S. Main St. #4 because his sister hadn’t heard from him in two to three weeks and couldn’t reach him. The man, who had been dealing with blood clots and alcoholism, was found dead in his bedroom. His body was sent to Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy.
• Erica Lillian Hoyt, 22, Somerset, was cited $691 for failure to stop for a school bus when its stop arm was extended and lights were flashing at 4:08 p.m. at Cascade Avenue and Birchcrest Drive.
• Nathan D. Haynor, 31, River Falls, was arrested and cited $986 for OWI, $136.60 for operating left of center and $86.20 for operation without required lamps lighted after a traffic stop for driving over the center line and in the oncoming traffic lane at 11:03 p.m. at Main Street and Quarry Road. Haynor admitted he was “screwed up” and said he’d been drinking downtown. He smelled of alcohol, was slurring and stumbled when he exited the vehicle. He refused to do field sobriety tests or a provide a breath sample, so he was taken to the hospital for a blood draw after a warrant was obtained. After booking, he was released to a sober party.

Thursday, Dec. 4

• At 9:26 a.m., police were notified of a hit and run that had occurred at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Family Fresh parking lot (303 S. Main St.) An unknown vehicle had sideswiped a legally parked 2019 Infiniti QX60, owned by Connie Gail Ripley, Burnsville, Minn., causing damage to the passenger side mirror and door. The video surveillance didn’t reveal the suspect.
• At 11:47 p.m., police located an unoccupied vehicle near the Glen Park pickleball courts (355 Park St.) Two men were seen running away from police east through the park. One man fell face first in the snow while fleeing. Both men eventually stopped; one was highly intoxicated and said they had been smoking marijuana in the park. Joseph Thomas Cottrell, 23, River Falls, and Timothy James McGrane Jr., 24, River Falls, were both cited $98.80 for being in the park after hours and given courtesy rides home.

Friday, Dec. 5

• Peter Gotthilf Werner, 33, Amherst, was cited $691 for failure to stop for a scholl bus while the stop arm was extended and lights were flashing at 8:10 a.m. at Johnson and State streets.
• Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 10:11 a.m. at Johnson and Main streets between a 2013 Chevy Camaro, driven by a 16-year-old River Falls juvenile and a 2013 Toyota Corolla, driven by Rebekah Dawn Rose Taepke, 21, Coon Rapids, Minn. The Camaro was traveling south on Main Street, attempting to turn west onto Johnson Street, while Taepke was stopped at the stop sign facing east. The juvenile was going too fast on the slippery road and slid into Taepke’s Toyota while making his turn. The Camaro had functional damage while the Toyota was towed due to disabling damage. No injuries were reported.
• Officers were dispatched to a hit and run crash at 6:32 p.m. at Main Street and Cascade Avenue. A 2016 Chrysler Town & Country, driven by Lynda Lee Jones, 63, River Falls, was heading north on Main Street when an unknown vehicle, also heading north, crossed two lanes, cut in front of her and turned right, causing Jones to strike its rear corner. The other driver did not stop. Jones’ vehicle had minor damage. She reported no injuries.
• Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 10:34 p.m. at Maple and Main streets between a 1999 Buick Regal, driven by Linley Alastar Sewall Hardy, 19, River Falls, and a 2015 Nissan Rogue, driven by Logan Roman Biedermann, 19, Eau Claire. Sewall Hardy rearended Biedermann, who was stopped at the stoplight. Both vehicles had minor damage. Sewall Hardy reported no injuries, while Biedermann reported possible injuries but was not transported. Sewall Hardy was cited $124 for automobile following too closely.

Saturday, Dec. 6

• At 12:03 a.m., police on patrol located a vehicle parked at Hoffman Park after hours with two occupants. The air hung heavy with marijuana smoke and the driver, identified as Chloe M. VanWatermeulen, 20, Ellsworth, had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slow speech and appeared confused. In the vehicle, police located marijuana, beer, joints, THC candy, a pipe and a bong. VanWatermeulen was cited $187 for possession of THC and $187 for possess drug paraphernalia. The 17-year-old River Falls juvenile passenger was cited $187 for possession of THC and given a courtesy ride to his dad’s residence in Spring Valley. Police gave VanWatermeulen a ride to her sister’s house in River Falls.
• Police were dispatched at 3:21 p.m. to 119 Union St. #117 for a 92-year-old woman having labored breathing. Her children had located her face down on the kitchen table. She asked to be taken to bed, where she died. Her body was released to the medical examiner.
• Officers were called to a two-vehicle crash at 9:17 p.m. at Main and Division streets between a 2018 Chevy Malibu, driven by Cianna Faye Diedrich, 21, Hortonville, and a 2020 Ford F150, driven by Daniel Robert Lynum, 43, River Falls. Diedrich, heading north on Main Street, ran a red light and struck Lynum, who was turning east onto Division Street on a green arrow. The Chevy had moderate damage, while the Ford had minor damage. No injuries were reported. Diedrich was cited $98.80 for operator violate red traffic light.

Sunday, Dec. 7

• While on patrol at 1:21 a.m. near Main and Maple streets, police saw a man repeatedly kicking a city trash can. Reece Curtis Brenna, 20, River Falls, was arrested and cited $250 for criminal damage to property and $187 for underage drinking/possession. He said he was downtown drinking with his buddies, who had left him behind. He registered a .162 BAC. Officers also confiscated his fake ID, for which he received a warning.
• Gabriel James Atkins, 23, Woodbury, Minn., was arrested and cited $986 for OWI, $124 for exhibition of power and $98.80 for non-registration of auto after a traffic stop for revving his engine, fishtailing on icy roads and making an illegal U-turn at 2:09 a.m. at Main and Pine streets. Atkins smelled of alcohol and had trouble finding his ID, handing officers a handful of debit cards and photos of his girlfriend. He refused to do field sobriety tests or submit to a breath test, so police obtained a warrant for a blood draw at the hospital. He said he was at the Sleeping Moose in Hudson. After booking, he was released to a sober person.
• At 10:23 p.m., police were dispatched to MacMillan Hall (700 E. Cascade Ave.) for the smell of marijuana coming from a dorm room. Police located a THC vape plugged into a charger in Room #229. The occupant denied owning the device. The case was forwarded to campus police.

Monday, Dec. 8

• Police were dispatched at 12:44 a.m. to Our House Senior Living (902 S. Wasson Lane) for an 84-year-old man found deceased in his chair. CPR was not successful. The cause of death was deemed to be natural and his family was notified.
• Officers responded to a one-vehicle crash at 10 a.m. on East Division Street just east of Yellowstone Drive. A 2016 Dodge 2500, driven by Douglas Alan Stromley, 73, Cumberland, was heading east on Division when Stromley sneezed, caught the edge of the snow on the shoulder, struck a traffic sign and went into the ditch, where he hit some shrubs and small trees. The vehicle had no damage. Stromley reported no injuries.
• Police were notified of a harassment complaint at 5:41 p.m. at 415 S. Wasson Lane. A woman reported receiving harassing messages via text and Instagram from her former roommate and provided police screenshots. Police reached out to the suspect and gave her a verbal warning.
• A dog bite was reported at 7:53 p.m. at 1450 S. Wasson Lane #53. A woman’s 120-pound St. Bernard bit her while she was brushing it. A quarantine order was issued.
• At 6:14 p.m., police took possession of an American Staffordshire Terrier Jocelin Jane Schellbach, 25, River Falls, claimed to find wandering in an alley near 512 E. Maple St. Through research of the dog’s chip, police learned Schellbach had recently adopted the dog through a rescue organization but decided she didn’t want the dog anymore. Schellbach at first denied owning the dog, then admitted she had adopted it and didn’t want it anymore because it was aggressive to her other dogs. She was cited $98.80 for care of dogs and domesticated animals and $250 for resist/obstruct an officer. She was also warned for filing a false police report and told she’d likely owe restitution for the dog’s care.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

• At 2:06 p.m., a woman living in the 1300 block of Foster Street reported fraud. She had been in contact with a man claiming to be YouTube comedian William Zach Rushing. She had been communicating with him for over a year and had provided him with more than $1,000 in Apple gift cards and cash via Chime. The man had claimed to adopt two children and said he needed funds for food and formula. When she suspected it was a scam, she blocked him on social media, but he found ways to keep contacting her and sent earbuds and a bra to her house. She was advised to cease all communication and had already secured her bank accounts.
• Officers were notified of a two-vehicle crash at 11 a.m. that had occurred at 1 p.m. Dec. 8 in the River Falls High School (818 Cemetery Road) parking lot between a legally parked 2012 Toyota Corolla, owned by Joshua Thomas Zepczyk, River Falls, and a 2013 Ford Escape, driven by a 17-year-old River Falls juvenile. The juvenile bumped into the Toyota when parking in a stall, causing minor damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported.
• Police responded to a one-vehicle crash at 3:30 p.m. on County Road M just west of 880^th A 2017 Nissan Rogue, driven by Aidan Joseph Carufel, 20, River Falls, was heading west on County Road M. Carufel said he swerved to avoid a braking vehicle and went into the ditch, where he struck an AT&T utility box. The vehicle had minor damage and was towed. Carufel reported no injuries.

Wednesday, Dec. 10

• Officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at a 7:48 a.m. in front of 711 N. Main St. between a 2023 Chevy Silverado, driven by John Luke Linehan, 19, River Falls, and a 2017 Toyota Rav4, driven by Angus John McKechnie, 65, River Falls. Linehan was backing out of a parking lot while plowing snow and struck McKechnie’s vehicle, which was heading south on Main Street. Linehan’s truck had minor damage, while the Toyota was towed due to disabling damage. No injuries were reported. Linehan was cited $98.80 for unsafe backing of vehicle.
• Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 6:01 p.m. at Paulson Road and Main Street between a 2010 Nissan Altima, driven by Eve Angela Carlson, 20, River Falls, and a 2021 Kia Telluride, driven by Dannell Jean Nordstrom, 46, Woodbury, Minn. Nordstrom was stopped at the intersection and Carlson slid into her due to icy roads. The Nissan had moderate damage while the Kia had minor damage. No injuries were reported. Carlson was cited $136.60 for driving too fast for conditions.
• Police arrested Daniel John Kukuk, 38, River Falls, for three felony warrants at 10:17 p.m. at 1450 S. Wasson Lane #29. When police arrived, he slammed the door and locked it. They eventually convinced him to give up or they were going to bust down the door. He was allowed to make a phone call, drink a shot of whiskey and smoke a cigar before being taken to Pierce County Jail.

Thursday, Dec. 11

At 4:48 p.m., a home school-coop teacher reported a concerning text thread found on her 17-year-old son’s phone involving six boys from the coop, which meets at First Covenant Church (1374 N. Main St.) The thread included statements about blowing up the building, having a student build a bomb, and making molestation accusations against a teacher. Police decided to contact all parents of the involved students to discuss the seriousness of the statements made. The woman said she would contact the co-op board to address the matter from a school disciplinary perspective.