Carver County Sheriff’s Office issues missing person report

CARVER COUNTY, MN – Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson reports that at 9:23 p.m. Sept. 1, his Office received a report of a vulnerable adult that had walked away from a group home. The group home is located at 1012 Overlook Drive in the city of Carver.

Reported missing is 29 year old Jennifer Rose Johnson. She is being treated for several medical ailments but is not considered to be a danger to the public. She is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and white sweatshirt, black t-shirt, light colored blue jeans with holes in the knees, and bright orange tennis shoes.

Deputies from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, the Carver Fire Department, Eden Prairie K-9, and the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter unit, responded to the scene. All efforts to locate the subject have failed, so far.

If anyone knows the location of Ms. Johnson, or sees her, they are asked to call the Carver County Sheriff’s Office immediately or dial 911.

Minnesota State Patrol says July 4 is deadliest day of the year on the road

Drinking and Driving a Factor in 70 Percent of Deaths During Holiday Period

The Fourth of July is state’s deadliest day of the year on the road, according to the Minnesota State Patrol and the department of Public Safety.

In the last three years, Independence Day racked up 15 traffic deaths, topping May 22 (13), May 23 (11) and July 10 (11) for the deadliest 24-hour period.

MSP and DPS officials are stressing that motorists buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and plan ahead for a sober ride for the holiday.

Midway through the year, there have been 127 traffic deaths, compared to 125 at this time in 2011. In 2011 there were 368 deaths. They  represent a 44 percent decrease in annual fatalities from a decade ago. The crash data include 120 unbelted motorists, 111 alcohol-impaired crash victims, 42 motorcyclists and 40 pedestrians.

Fourth of July travel periods (78 hour period surrounding the holiday), 2009–2011:

·         1 deaths of which 15 were alcohol-related.

·         40 serious, life-altering injuries of which 18 were alcohol-related.

·         536 DWI arrest

“The spike in drinking and driving deaths during the Fourth of July is a clear and simple reminder why Minnesotans need to plan ahead for a sober ride.” says Donna Berger, director of the DPS Office of Traffic Safety.

Consequences of a DWI include thousands in costs, increased insurance rates, loss of license and possible jail time. All repeat DWI offenders, as well as motorists arrested for a first-time DWI with a 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock for at least a year or face at least one year without driving privileges.

Ignition interlock requires the driver to provide a breath sample below 0.02 alcohol-concentration in order for the vehicle to start. Learn more about ignition interlock at www.MinnesotaIgnitionInterlock.org.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) designs, implements, and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads.  OTS is an anchoring partner of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety initiative.

Recent OTS Activity

·         OTS issued the 2011 Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report, citing 368 traffic deaths for the year, the lowest since 1944 and a 44 percent reduction in deaths from a decade ago.

·         A May 21–June 3 statewide seat belt enforcement campaign resulted in 12,639 seat belt citations.

Suspect sought in Chanhassen home invasion

CARVER COUNTY, MN – Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson announced today that on April 25,  at 10:46 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the 900 block of Santa Vera Drive in Chanhassen for a report of a 1^st degree burglary and assault. It appears that the suspect forced entry into the home through the locked front door.

The female victim in the residence was able to fight off her assailant and escape. The suspect eventually fled the home in an unknown direction.

Suspect description:

White male approximately 25 years of age

6’1” to 6’2” stocky build

Brown hair, clean shaven

Suspect was last seen wearing a light blue shirt and khaki colored cargo type pants.

The Carver County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is actively investigating this incident.

Deputy fires shot while executing search warrant, Glencoe man in custody in McLeod County

McLEOD COUNTY, MN – Chief Deputy Tim Langenfeld of the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office announced today that  yesterday, Friday, April 13, the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team along with the Hutchinson Police Services Response Team and the Sibley County Response Team executed a search warrant.

Upon making entry, one McLeod County Sheriff’s Deputy discharged a weapon.  One adult male was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to the Hutchinson Hospital for injuries sustained.  Harry Lee Ondracek, 58, of rural Glencoe, was treated and released and is currently in custody at the McLeod County Jail pending charges of 5^th Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance.

As a result, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was requested to respond and take over the investigation.  One McLeod County sheriff’s deputy is currently on standard paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

Any future information will be released through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Mayer robbery suspect to be federally prosecuted

CARVER COUNTY, MN –

Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announced that a Federal grand jury has indicted

Demetrius Charles Edward Derden, 27, for violation of the Federal Hobbs Act.  This indictment stems from an armed robbery alleged to have occurred at a convenience store in Mayer on Dec. 3, 2011.

The matter was originally prosecuted in State court by the Carver County Attorney’s Office.

In cases such as this one, where Derden’s alleged actions violate both State and Federal law, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Carver County Attorney’s Office have overlapping jurisdiction to prosecute the case.  When this occurs, Federal and State prosecutors consult to determine the most appropriate single forum in which to proceed to satisfy the substantial Federal and State interests involved.

From the beginning of this case, Carver County Attorney Mark Metz was in communication with the United States Attorney’s Office.  Both offices agreed that the best interests of both the citizens of Carver County, as represented by the Carver County Attorney’s Office, and the citizens of the United States generally, as represented by the United States Attorney’s Office, were best served by Federal prosecution of this matter.  Accordingly, the Carver County Attorney’s Office dismissed its charges against Derden, deferring to the Federal prosecution of this case.

According to Metz, “Based on this egregious alleged conduct, Derden represents a public safety danger of the highest magnitude.  The best way, in my view, to protect public safety is to remove Derden from society for the longest period of time possible, should the allegations be proven.  In evaluating the likely sentence under the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines as compared to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, prosecution in Federal court offers the possibility of a significantly longer sentence.  Therefore, the United States Attorney and I agreed that the matter is most appropriately handled in Federal court. “

Watertown woman dies as result of accident

WATERTOWN, MN – Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson has issued a statement that on Dec, 16, 2011 at 6:17 pm, the sheriff’s office received a 9-1-1 call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Territorial and Westminster Avenue in Watertown.Visibility was limited due to the time of day.

The 68 year old victim was identified as Carol Ann Wiggins dob, 10-22-1943.

Wiggins was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition.  On Jan. 5, she died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.

The Carver County Attorney’s Office has reviewed the investigative reports and has determined that no criminal charges will be filed. According to the Carver County Attorney’s Office, “tragically, the evidence we have demonstrates that Ms. Wiggin’s simply did not see the vehicle entering the intersection and that the driver simply did not see Ms. Wiggins entering the crosswalk”.

Olson wants to remind everyone that traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. A driver’s reaction depends mostly on vision and visibility, both of which are reduced at night.

Olson wishes to remind citizens to:

• Keep headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) clean.
• Have your headlights properly aimed. Incorrectly aimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
• Avoid distractions such as talking, eating or using a cell phone while driving.

Next Page »