The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department Jan. 25-Feb. 2, 2026.

Sunday, Jan. 25

• Officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 10:13 a.m. at Crescent and Ninth streets between a 2016 Dodge Caravan, driven by Karen Ann De Voe, 81, River Falls, and a legally parked 2003 Ford Ranger, owned by Dave Jacob Kerr, Hager City. The sun got into De Voe’s eyes as she was traveling south on Crescent Street and she struck Kerr’s vehicle, which was parked facing south. Both vehicles had moderate damage. No injuries were reported.
• Police responded at 7:29 p.m. to a not-in-progress assault at 318 Kennedy St. The caller reported that he and his on-again, off-again 46-year-old girlfriend had been fighting in a vehicle in front of his residence. He said the woman placed her hands around his neck, spit on him, threw water in his face, hit him with a cellphone and threw a birthday present on the ground. The man had redness around his throat and scratches on his face. They didn’t locate the suspect, who had fled the scene, until 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the residence. She was not supposed to be there due to a protection order in place. She denied any physical altercation had taken place, denied knowing the protection order was in place and said she was there to get gas money from a different family member. Shirley Marge Hockensmith, 46, Rush City, Minn., was arrested for violate foreign protection order, domestic battery and domestic disorderly conduct. Police transported her to Pierce County Jail.

Monday, Jan. 26

• At 11:37 a.m., a resident at 1470 Cemetery Road reported ongoing harassment from a neighbor he had been romantically involved with a year prior. He said he had since gotten back together with his wife, but the neighbor (who he had broken it off with), continues to follow him in her vehicle, make loud noises to disrupt their sleep and text him. The neighbor denied harassing the complainant, and said he harasses her by showing up at her gym, screaming at her in the parking lot and asking her to travel with him and be with him. The man’s wife said the neighbor screams at her in the parking lot, laughs at her and watches her through the window. Police took statements from both parties involved to document the incidents.
• Police were dispatched to a house fire at 10 p.m. at 213 S. Third St. When they arrived, they saw a large amount of smoke coming out of the home’s south side. Multiple people were on the porch and informed police two kids may still be in the basement. Police ran around the back and found a man and woman standing outside the basement entrance; they said no one else was inside. Police confirmed no other people were inside. Police spoke to the five residents who live in the home’s main and upper level: April Marie Richardson, 45; William Richard Richardson, 41; a 10-year-old juvenile, a 16-year-old juvenile and Angelica Danielle Dorr, They also spoke to Zander Michael Klein, 22, and Aubrey Lynn Burger, 18, who live in the basement apartment. The fire started in the kitchen on the home’s main level. Firefighters extinguished it; the kitchen had significant damage, but the residents could stay in the home, along with their dog. The fire started when someone started cooking food on the stove in a wok and a grease fire erupted. Red Cross was notified of the situation ad photos were taken of the damage.

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Police were dispatched to a disabled vehicle call at 2:09 p.m. at highways 29 ad 65. The driver, Ashley Rose Plahn, 41, Ellsworth, said she was coming home from work when her car died. Police noted the gas gauge was on “E.” She had glossy, bloodshot eyes. When she exited the vehicle, an alcohol shooter bottle fell out from her lap. After completing field sobriety tests at the police station due to the cold weather, she refused a PBT. Police also found empty alcohol shooters in her purse. She was arrested and cited $850 for OWI-third and $263.50 for possess open intoxicants in motor vehicle – driver. Police transported her to the hospital for a blood draw before completing booking. Her vehicle was towed and she was released to a sober adult.

Wednesday, Jan. 28

• Police responded to a car vs. deer crash at 12:56 a.m. near N8118 Highway 29, south of Cemetery Road. A 2017 Subaru Outback, driven by Allison Leigh Kenow, 26, Prescott, was heading north on Highway 29 when she struck a deer. The deer flew into the mailbox at N8118 Highway 29 and damaged it. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Kenow reported no injuries, though the airbags in her vehicle deployed.
• At 11:30 a.m., a resident reported receiving a package in the mail, directly from the FedEx driver, that was empty. It was supposed to contain two watches worth $300 each.
• Officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 2:46 p.m. at 2348 Aurora Circle between a 2016 Dodge Journey, driven by Lisa Marie Martinez, 57, Bayport, Minn., and a legally parked 2012 Dodge Avenger, owned by Lindsey M. Carlberg, Martinez backed out of a parking spot into Carlberg’s vehicle. Martinez’s Journey had minor damage, while the Avenger had moderate damage. No injuries were reported.
• Police were notified of a hit and run at 2:24 p.m. at Spring and Third streets. An unknown vehicle backed into a legally parked 2024 Chevy Malibu, owned by Preston Leonard Palmer, Savage, Minn., causing minor damage. There are no suspects.
• Police responded to a four-vehicle crash at 3:31 p.m. at Main and Pomeroy streets. A 2007 Chevy Silverado, driven by Tyrone Thomas Bartlett, 18, River Falls, was stopped in the southbound lane at a red light at Powell Avenue. A 2023 Toyota Corolla, driven by Patrick Owen Kastens, 30, River Falls, was stopped behind him. A 2011 Kia Sorento, driven by Mikaela Rielly Michalkiewicz, 22, Baldwin, rear-ended Kastens, who then rear-ended Bartlett. A 2008 Ford Focus, driven by Gregory James Ullom, 68, Beldenville, rear-ended Michalkiewicz when she slammed on her brakes. Michalkiewicz at first told police that the drivers in front of her slammed on their brakes suddenly but later admitted she was messing with her radio and looking down when she struck Kastens, who was stopped at the light. She was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving. Bartlett went to the hospital on his own to be seen for back pain after the crash. Michalkiewicz allowed EMS to examine her hand, which she said was injured. The other two drivers didn’t report injuries. The Chevy had minor damage. The Toyota, Kia and Ford all had moderate damage.

Thursday, Jan. 29

Ivy Rae Vincent, 40, River Falls, was arrested and cited $250 for operating while revoked (alcohol related), $150 for ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order and $150 for operate motor vehicle without insurance after a traffic stop for driving without taillights at 7:20 p.m. at Dallas and Walnut streets. A friend was allowed to drive her vehicle home.

Friday, Jan. 30

• Police were dispatched to a welfare check at 4:13 a.m. at River Falls Area Hospital (1629 E. Division St.) Police connected a suicidal man with Northwest Connections. He was allowed to stay at the hospital until a social worker was able to respond.
• Officers were called at 8:29 a.m. to Kwik Trip (1238 N. Main St.) for an ongoing theft complaint. The manager provided police with information on at least 12 theft incidents involving a man wearing an O’Reilly Auto Parts uniform. He came in consistently at the same time each morning, concealed some items in his clothing without paying for them and paid for others. The store determined he had stolen $108.32 in items that they knew about, including food and energy drinks, according to video surveillance. Mark Brian Plunkett, 57, was trespassed from all River Falls Kwik Trips. The theft case is under investigation.

Saturday, Jan. 31

• Madison Gordina Welsh, 20, River Falls, was arrested and cited $986 for operating with PAC >= 0.15, $986 for OWI and $187 for an ID card violation after a traffic stop for driving the wrong way down a one-way street at 2:48 a.m. at Second Street and Cascade Avenue. Police had seen Welsh’s vehicle parked behind Emma’s Bar for a significant amount of time. They later watched as it parked diagonally at an address on Locust Street, before driving the wrong way down Spring Street and blowing through an intersection without stopping. Welsh denied having a fake ID or drinking; the fake ID was confiscated. After performing field sobriety tests, she was arrested for OWI. She registered a 0.15 BAC at the police station. Her keys were given to one of her passengers for safekeeping; she was released to a sober person after booking.
• Police were dispatched to a civil matter at 2:55 p.m. at 215 Foster St. The complainant said her fourplex neighbor has been harassing her for about a year stemming from a car battery dispute. She said the neighbor has threatened to make her dog and brand new vehicle disappear and physically harm her. Eggs were thrown at her vehicle around 9:30 a.m. Jan. 30 and she found nails placed strategically behind each of her four tires. She accused the neighbor of yelling at her children, calling her a car battery thief, disparaging her to area businesses and reporting false claims to their landlord. The suspect told police the complainant had stolen money from her friend and a car battery from her, valued at $600. She said she’s been having issues with the complainant’s dog, who poops in her yard. She also accused the complainant of stealing her mail. Both parties expressed frustration with the ongoing conflict and blamed the other for the issues. Neither party indicated willingness to move from the residence. Police advised both parties to cease all communication with each other and to block each other's phone numbers.
• At 11:23 a.m., a woman reported that a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan had been stolen from 1139 W. Maple St. The van is supposed to remain on the property per court order until a woman’s estate is resolved. Police learned the vehicle had been used by a family member then returned. The vehicle is part of an ongoing civil matter over a woman’s estate.

Sunday, Feb. 1

• Officers responded to a one-vehicle crash at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 65 just south of the Cemetery Road roundabout. A 2000 Lexus RX, driven by Corwin Bryce Kurhajec, 38, Roberts, was traveling north toward the roundabout on slippery roads. As he braked, he left the road and struck a light pole. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. Kurhajec reported no injuries.
• Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 1:50 p.m. at Division and Winter streets between a 2007 Ford F150, driven by Jason Victor Johnson, 47, Minneapolis, and a 2006 Honda Pilot, driven by Amelia Grace Johnston Janquart, 20, River Falls. Johnson had stopped at the intersection but didn’t see Johnston Janquart heading west on Division Street (she had the right-of-way) and T-boned her vehicle. The Ford had minor damage while the Honda had moderate damage. Neither driver nor Johnson’s passenger Ryan Edward Sierzchulski, 44, Presque Isle, reported injuries. Johnson was cited $98.80 for fail/yield right/way from stop sign.
• Police were called at 5:18 p.m. to a conduct a welfare check on a juvenile at a home in the 600 block of River Ridge Road. Police interviewed all parties involved and deemed the juvenile would stay at the home that night.
• At 9:28 p.m., police responded to a fight in progress at 2926 Radio Road. Dispatch received a report that a gray vehicle was driving all over the parking lot almost hitting other vehicles. The complainant said two men parked the vehicle up on a curb on a median and got out and began fighting each other. Witness accounts described both men, identified as Jordan Matthew Steinagel, 27, River Falls, and Mason Jeffrey Bernas, 28, Kronenwetter, as taking turns getting into the driver’s seat of the vehicle, attempting to get it unstuck. Steinagel told police Bernas had driven the pair from Broz to the apartment, where he got the vehicle stuck on a median. Both men were highly intoxicated, reeked of alcohol, were slurring and acted belligerently. Bernas actively resisted arrest and tried to walk toward the building. He also had a cut on his forehead that was bleeding. Steinagel, who registered 0.299 BAC, was arrested and cited $500 for OWI-second and taken to St. Croix County Jail. Bernas, who refused a PBT, was taken to the hospital for a blood draw, where he was also uncooperative. He was arrested and cited $986 for OWI and resisting or obstructing an officer, plus a probation hold. He was also taken to St. Croix County Jail.

Monday, Feb. 2

• At 7:45 a.m., the student resource officer was informed of girls possibly vaping in the girls’ locker room at River Falls High School (818 Cemetery Road). Officers searched a 17-year-old suspect’s locker and found a vape inside her purse. The Prescott teen was fined $98.80 for minor possess or purchase tobacco/nicotine (third). School officials were also going to discuss her suspension length and open enrollment status.
• At 10:56 a.m., police responded to TurningPoint for a theft complaint. Video footage showed a 24-year-old resident entering the facility at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 31 with a key, instead of the customary electronic entry badges given to residents. Staff had noticed the spare master key missing from a locked office. The woman was evicted from the residence; she denied having a key and none was found in her belongings. Staff estimated the cost to rekey the facility would be $10,000. The case was forwarded to the Pierce County probation office.
• Police were dispatched at 11:36 a.m. to Coratel Inn & Suites (1207 St. Croix St.) for a welfare check. Police gave a homeless woman advice on dealing with scammers after learning that she thought she would be receiving an $11.5 million settlement from the FBI.
• Officers responded at 4:38 p.m. to a three-vehicle crash at Second and Cedar streets between a 2013 Chevy Volt, driven by Christos Aedric Kempf, 23, River Falls; a legally parked 2014 Dodge Charger, owned by Gregory J. Zalesky, River Falls; and a legally parked 2021 Ford Expedition, owned by Sarah J. Jenkins, River Falls. Kempf sideswiped Zalesky’s and Jenkins’ vehicles while they were parked on Second Street as he was heading southbound. All vehicles had minor damage. No injuries were reported.