2018 Highlights

OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT—2018 Annual Report

2018 Detective Bureau Highlights

On February 6th, 2018 at 7:18 a.m., officers responded to the Eagle’s Club for a burglary. The initial investigation revealed no forced entry, but approximately $8000 in cash and checks were missing from the safe. Surveillance video identified a male party believed to be involved in the case, but as with many cases involving surveillance video, we had a nameless face. The Eagle’s Club posted the image of the suspect on their Facebook page and tips were received that linked the nameless face to a burglary in Lino Lakes, MN. Detectives compared the Eagles’ surveillance video with that in Lino Lakes and an association was made; and better yet, Lino Lakes had a name. Connecting the dots, our detectives were able to track the movements of the suspect to a Days Inn hotel in Mounds View. On February 8th at 2:38 a.m., the Mounds View Police Department arrested our suspect. Joseph J. Kreiger, age 46 of Oakdale, was transported to Owatonna and jailed. He has been charged with 3rd Degree Burglary and Theft—both felonies. (OW18-000324)

During the early morning hours on October 17th, 2018, our officers were called to a home on Wilson Drive in Owatonna for the report of a disturbance—a witness reported loud banging and a male voice yelling. Officers met with a resident in the home and observed signs of intoxication. They also heard a child’s voice coming from a bedroom and a significant amount of blood on the floor in another bedroom. Officers attempted to speak with the child through a barricaded door—the child told the officer, “He was trying to kill me.” and “I am bleeding bad.” The child later opened the door and officers found the child’s face covered with blood. During a statement, the child told officers that the suspect tried killing him with a knife. The child alleged he was struck on the nose with the back of the knife and on his head when the suspect made a downward cutting motion. The child indicated the suspect made comments of killing the child and other family members. During a search of the home, a knife was recovered in a washing machine and the child’s shirt was found alongside the washing machine covered in blood. Julio C. Cano, age 45 of Owatonna, was arrested and jailed. He has been charged with 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Attempted 1st Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Terroristic Threats— all felonies. (OW18-002283)