2011 Detective Bureau Highlights...…………………………………………………………………...…19 South Central Drug Investigation Unit SCDIU Tactical Team……...………………….…………………………………………………………22

DETECTIVE BUREAU

2011 Detective Bureau Highlights

January 2011: Owatonna Detectives assisted Dodge County Sheriff’s Office with the execution of a search warrant for a home in Owatonna. Detectives were looking for evidence of child pornography and located several photos on electronics seized from the home. Federal and state charges were brought against the suspect and he eventually pled guilty. (OW11-000127)

February 2011: Several businesses were the victims of burglaries and with the help of surveillance videos and night time surveillance patrols, detectives were successful in apprehending the suspect. The suspect was charged with multiple counts of burglary and possession of burglary tools. (OW11-000480)

March 2011: A criminal sexual conduct investigation was opened when officers responded to a 911 call from a male stating his girlfriend had been forced to drink alcohol and was then sexually assaulted. When officers arrived, they found numerous underage individuals drinking in the garage. Detectives were called to the scene and after interviewing the suspect, victim, and witnesses, the suspect was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct. (OW11-000685)

April 2011: A fraud investigation revealed that a convicted felon had voted in the last election. Detectives interviewed the suspect and his wife in which they both admitted that he had voted in the last election and had not realized that his past conviction meant he could not vote. The case was sent to the county attorney for review once the investigation was complete. (OW11-001004)

May 2011: Detectives were asked to assist Steele County Human Services with a fraud investigation as one of the suspects is a Steele County employee. Detectives began locating and reviewing records with the human services fraud investigator and it is discovered that the employee and her spouse have received several thousand dollars in benefits that they did not qualify for. As the investigation continued, the state of Minnesota opened an investigation into their sales tax records as well. After two months of investigation, two suspects were arrested and charged with fraud. (OW11-001421)

June 2011: Corporal Detective John Petterson retired June 21, 2011. Detective Petterson began his career with the Owatonna Police Department on January 2, 1991. During his tenure, he served as a Canine Officer, Bike Patrol Officer, South Central Drug Investigation Unit Agent, School Resource Officer, and most recently as a Corporal Detective assigned to investigate crimes against persons. During his various assignments, he received two service awards.

DETECTIVE BUREAU

2011 Detective Bureau Highlights

July 2011: Detective Joel Hunt joined the Detective Bureau. An elderly woman reported that her collection of dolls was stolen and she thought she knew who might have them. When the detective made contact with the victim he determined that she was in need of services and made a referral to Steele County Human Services. After further investigation, it was determined that no crime had been committed and the woman was suffering from dementia. (OW11-001751)

August 2011: Sergeant Joel Welinski retired on August 31, 2011. Sergeant Welinski began his career with the Owatonna Police Department on August 30, 1982. As a patrol officer, he fulfilled the roles of DARE Officer, Traffic Accident Reconstructionist and Field Training Officer. He also worked as an investigator for two years before returning to patrol duties. In 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and most recently served as the Detective Bureau Sergeant as well as the Commander of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit. During his career, he received nine service awards, including MN Public Safety Medal of Honor & OPD Medal of Valor.

September 2011: Detectives responded to a suspicious death scene involving a man in his forties. The caller stated his friend was not breathing and when officers arrived, they located a deceased male in the bedroom. Upon interviewing the reporting party, he stated his friend had come over the night before and they had been partying so his friend decided to spend the night. Detectives determined the victim had been deceased for at least several hours but did not find any evidence of foul play. An autopsy revealed a variety of narcotics in the victim. (OW11-002214)

October 2011: School Resource Officers investigated the complaint of a student being shot with an airsoft gun before school one morning. After interviewing several witnesses, the victim, and two suspects it was determined that the victim was shot for refusing to break up with his girlfriend. Two suspects were charged through juvenile petitions. (OW11-002545)

November 2011: An increase of thefts in burglaries kept detectives busy during the month of November. However, by month’s end, detectives had the suspect arrested and charged with multiple home burglaries and thefts from vehicles. (OW11-002915)

December 2011: Detective Terrence Flynn joined the Detective Bureau. Detectives were responding to a report of a home invasion when they received a call about a robbery on the other end of town. After further investigation, it was determined the home invasion and the robbery were related to the same call, but the victim was scared to admit he had been at the scene of the home invasion. Suspects were eventually arrested and charged and the victim was charged with drug possession. (OW11-003186)

DETECTIVE BUREAU

SCDIU

The Owatonna Police Department continued the leadership role as Fiscal Agents of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit in 2011. This leadership role includes the assignment of a police sergeant as commander as well as an administrative assistant. We also continued to co-fund a field agent position in conjunction with the Steele County Sheriff’s Office. The SCDIU is a federally funded narcotics task force formed in cooperation with member agencies of four counties, encompassing a jurisdictional area of approximately 2,500 square miles. Staffed by four specially trained field agents, the task force concentrates their efforts on narcotics distribution and narcotics related investigations. Agents also assist member agencies with criminal investigations that have a correlation with illegal drugs.

The SCDIU has developed strong partnerships with adjoining task forces, the Minnesota BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), investigating cases that stretch beyond our boundaries that have a direct impact on the flow of illegal drugs into our area. The agents also focus on public education, especially the young people of our communities, by conducting presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations, and in the work place.