2012 Detective Bureau Highlights...…………………………………………………………………...…20 South Central Drug Investigation Unit SCDIU Tactical Team……...………………….…………………………………………………………23

DETECTIVE BUREAU

2012 Detective Bureau Highlights

January 2012: Owatonna detectives followed up on a case involving the discharge of a firearm within city limits. Upon interviewing witnesses and the suspect, detectives learned that the two squirrels had been killed with the firearm. Detectives requested charges of discharging a firearm within city limits, wanton waste, and taking small game without a license. (OW12-000073)

February 2012: An Owatonna woman was charged with theft after admitting to stealing food from her employer. Cash Wise notified the OPD of an employee theft and provided surveillance video as well as written reports detailing the incidents. The employee admitted to the theft and was terminated from employment. A detective interviewed the suspect and requested theft charges through the Steele County Attorney’s Office. (OW12-000471)

March 2012: A nine month long investigation culminated in the execution of five search warrants in Owatonna and the arrests of thirty-two individuals involved in the sale of illegal drugs. OPD detectives worked with South Central Drug Iinvestigation Unit (SCDIU) Agents and the SCDIU Tactical Team to execute the warrants and make the arrests. (OW12-000569)

April 2012: A fifteen year old girl reported being sexually assaulted at a party she attended approximately one month earlier. Detectives learned the victim was with several friends who were drinking and smoking marijuana when she was lured into a bedroom and sexually assaulted. The victim was scared to report the incident, but eventually told her mother, who brought her to the police department to file a report. The case was sent to the Steele County Attorney’s Office for review of criminal sexual conduct charges. (OW12-000833)

May 2012: A string of burglaries led detectives to a trio of suspects. After several interviews and viewing of surveillance video, detectives were unable to find enough evidence to request charges on the suspects. The businesses involved sustained minor damage. (OW12001138, OW12-001139, OW12-001140)

June 2012: An officer with the Minneapolis PD notified OPD detectives that a Level II Predatory Offender Registrant living in Owatonna was distributing what was believed to be child pornography. Detectives assisted the Minneapolis PD officer with the execution of a search warrant at the suspect’s home. Formal complaint charges were requested through the Steele County Attorney’s office for possession of child pornography. (OW12001371)

DETECTIVE BUREAU

2012 Detective Bureau Highlights

July 2012: Four juveniles were charged with theft, tampering with a motor vehicle, aid and abet, and curfew violations after detectives discovered they were responsible for a string of thefts that had been occurring over the past several weeks. The Patrol Division and Detective Bureau worked closely on these cases and were able to apprehend the suspects and locate several items of stolen property. (OW12-001564)

August 2012: Patrol officers responded to a call for assistance from Target loss prevention employees. When officers arrived, the suspect had fled, but the Target employees recognized her from other thefts and were able to provide her name and the type of vehicle she was driving. Detectives followed up on information provided by Target loss prevention and found that the suspect had stolen over $2,900.00 worth the merchandise. She was formally charged with felony theft. (0W12-002099)

September 2012: After responding to two separate fire calls near Morehouse Park, the fire department advised OPD that the fires were arson. Detectives were able to pull up surveillance video of the skate park and identify the individuals responsible for starting one of the fires. A juvenile was cited for fifth degree arson. (OW12-002424)

October 2012: Working with officers from the Financial Crimes Task Force, detectives were able to locate two suspects involved in credit card fraud at Cabelas and Kohls. The suspects were part of a larger ring of criminals committing financial card fraud across the country. Two suspects were charged locally through the Steele County Attorney’s Office. It was determined their fraud resulted in the loss of over $14,000.00 to local stores. (OW12-002568)

November 2012: A night of drinking and partying led to obscene photos being placed on Facebook. When the victim called police, she stated she had asked for the photo to be removed, but the suspect refused to remove the photo. When detectives spoke with the suspect, he stated he had been drinking and partying when he posted the photo and thought it would be funny, but removed the photo once he was sober and realized how inappropriate it was. (OW12-003054)

December 2012: Detectives followed up with the victims of an assault and a domestic assault and learned that the suspect and victims had been drinking and playing truth or dare before the assault. Upon further interviews, detectives discovered that the suspect was not provoked but attacked the victims when they tried to leave. The suspect was charged with gross misdemeanor domestic assault,

DETECTIVE BUREAU

SCDIU

The Owatonna Police Department continued the leadership role as Fiscal Agents of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit (SCDIU) in 2012. 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.