From the Record — Nov. 11-18, 2024

Multiple vehicle burglaries and vandalisms reported around the county

The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office has responded to many reports over the last several days involving vehicles that were burglarized with some being vandalized, starting around Nov. 12. A theft took place on County Highway 31, five miles northeast of Dunvilla, reported at around 8:01 a.m., in which a work/job trailer was broken into with a suspect or suspects taking several DeWalt brand power tools totaling an estimated worth of approximately $6,095. In another report received on Nov. 12, at about 8:43 p.m., a vehicle window was broken out on the north shore of Little Pine Lake on North Little Pine Road, and a black Coach purse and tan wallet were stolen. 

 On Nov. 13, a resident on Pheasant Run contacted the sheriff’s office at 8:47 a.m. reporting that a wallet and FM transmitter had been stolen from an unlocked vehicle on their property. At about 10:29 a.m., a resident on 435th Street in Perham reported that the front driver’s side window had been broken out of a vehicle with $65 in cash stolen, along with registration paperwork and Italian sunglasses. Also on 435th Street, another resident reported that a Savage model 99 shell counter and a wood-grain stock with a black barrel, valued at $1,200, had been stolen out of a vehicle, along with a $20 bill. That report came to authorities around 10:41 a.m.

On Nov. 15, a resident on Fox Run found credit cards scattered in their yard under a tree, determined to likely be associated with a string of burglaries in the Perham area.

Less than a mile away, on 428th Street, on Nov. 16, another resident reported that firearms and wallets had been taken from two unlocked vehicles sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Nov. 17. At 8:06 a.m., a resident on Sunshine Villa Drive, in the same area, reported that a debit card and about $100 in cash had been stolen out of their vehicle.

At about 9:41 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 17, a resident on County Highway 53, roughly nine miles northwest of New York Mills and due south of Big Pine Lake, reported that a wallet and pistol had been stolen from an unlocked vehicle that had been parked inside a garage. 

Road rage incidents reported

Fergus Falls Police Department dispatch received a call from a motorist on Nov. 15, at about 11:37 a.m., reporting that a green minivan had followed them home and yelled at them on the road in front of their home on Linden Street. The driver of the other vehicle had apparently stopped in the middle of the roadway, and the caller honked at them. After they had honked at the other vehicle at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Vine Street, the van followed them home.

In another road rage incident at the intersection of North Broadway and West Lincoln avenues, that occurred on Nov. 17 around 4:13 p.m., a motorist reported that a black Jeep pulled up to their vehicle at the stoplight and a man got out of their vehicle and started yelling at them. An officer spoke with the man who confirmed the incident happened. He was advised that his behavior was unacceptable and could be grounds for criminal charges; however, no citations or charges were laid.

Light pole falls

Fergus Falls police received a call from a business on the 100 block of North Court Street on Nov. 16, at about 12:14 p.m., reporting that a light pole had fallen, blocking Court Street. An officer stood by until city crews and an electrical firm responded and removed the pole. No damage was reported to any property other than the pole itself.

Person laying in street

A resident near the intersection of East Channing and Mabelle avenues contacted Fergus Falls police on Nov. 16, around 5:10 a.m., reporting that a person was laying in the street. When an officer arrived, they determined that the individual was intoxicated and had passed out in the driving lane. The man woke up and became more alert throughout the encounter, and denied medical attention and eventually went back into their residence nearby.

Business door damaged

The owner of a business at 200 W. Lincoln Ave. contacted Fergus Falls police on Nov. 12, at about 4:49 p.m. to report that a back door looked like it had been pried open. When an officer responded, they observed that the door had been damaged, but no entry was gained. Damages were unknown at the time of the report.

“Back the Blue” sign stolen

A resident on the 900 block of West Cavour Avenue contacted Fergus Falls police on Nov. 12, at about 12:11 p.m. to report that their “Back the Blue” sign had been removed from their yard sometime on Nov. 10 after 10:42 a.m.

Multiple minors cited for underage consumption

A traffic stop on the outskirts of Fergus Falls on Nov. 16, at around 10:27 p.m., resulted in multiple minors being issued citations for underage consumption. A Fergus Falls police officer first noticed a lot of movement by occupants of the vehicle, then stopped it and issued six citations to the juveniles, who were all eventually released to their parents. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

Vehicle driving down bike trail

A passing motorist contacted the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 16, at about 10:31 p.m., to report a vehicle driving down a bike trail near the intersection of 305th Avenue and County Highway 82, roughly five miles southeast of Dalton. When a deputy located the reported vehicle, they were informed by the person that they were with the Central Lake Trail and were traveling trails and cleaning debris off of them. They also informed the deputy that several other people would be out doing the same work until around Nov. 23.

Bus driver confronts driver over stop arm violation

A bus driver contacted the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 15, at around 7:14 a.m., to report that the driver of a vehicle had driven past a stop arm and had honked at them in an attempt to get the bus to stop. The bus driver then followed and confronted the driver and had a minor altercation.

Headstones tipped over

A person called the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 12, at about 10:20 a.m., to report that 12 heavy headstones had been tipped over in the Hay Creek Cemetery, located at 62278 450th St., roughly six miles west of Sebeka. It is unknown when the incident occurred, and the deputy that responded noted that the damage appeared random. 

Motorist strikes couch in roadway

The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office dispatch received a report on Nov. 14 around 8:44 p.m., of someone hitting a couch that was in the middle of the road just south of Perham,  near the intersection of MN-78 and MN-108, which was covered in debris. The call was referred to the Minnesota State Patrol.