2024
DATE: January 27, 2024
INCIDENT: Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE FILE: 24000210
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
At approximately 6:30pm on January 27th, 2024, officers with the South St. Paul Police Department, along with responders from the South Metro Fire Department and medics from M Health Fairview, responded to a reported male laying in the street on Concord Street, south of Richmond Street in the City of South St. Paul. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male laying in the street, suffering from significant injuries consistent with being struck my a motor vehicle, which was no longer on scene. Emergency aid was rendered by responders and the victim was eventually transported to an area hospital for treatment where his status is currently unknown.
Officers with the South St. Paul Police Department, assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol are currently reconstructing the accident scene and the investigation is on going. Anyone with information about this crash is encouraged to contact the South St. Paul Police Department by dialing 651.413.8300.
An investigation into this incident is being conducted by the South St. Paul Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol and additional information will be released as it is available.
DATE: April 7, 2024
INCIDENT: Weapon Involved Assault / Standoff
CASE FILE: 24000835
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on April 7th, 2024, officers with the South St. Paul Police Department were dispatched to a multi-unit apartment building in the 200 block of Marie Avenue on a report of disturbance with one of the participants threatening another with a firearm. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male in the hallway of the building with a rifle who refused to follow commands and fled into an apartment.
As responding officers worked to secure the scene and negotiate with the suspect, officers from the Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, and West St. Paul Police Departments responded to assist in the evacuation of nearby apartments. Responding officers attempted to negotiate the surrender of this male for approximately two hours at which point assistance was requested from our countywide tactical operations team, South Metro SWAT.
At approximately 10:00 p.m. this same evening, after multiple hours trying to achieve a peaceful surrender, members of the South Metro SWAT team were able to introduce a chemical irritant into the apartment and take the suspect into custody as he exited. The suspect, a sixty-two-year-old male from South St. Paul, was treated for injuries sustained during his arrest and transported to the Dakota County Jail.
We are proud of the professionalism and restraint displayed by our responding officers today in what can best be described as an incredibly tense encounter with an armed offender. In addition, we are immensely grateful for the support of our public safety partners throughout Dakota and Rice Counties, including our partners with the South Metro Fire Department, who assisted us in ensuring a safe outcome for all involved.
DATE: May 31, 2024
INCIDENT: 2nd Dg Assault / Firearm Discharge
CASE FILE: 24001300
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
At approximately 10:15 p.m. on May 31st, 2024, officers with the South St. Paul Police Department were dispatched to a multi-unit apartment building in the 200 block of Grand Avenue West on a report of an unspecified disturbance. Upon arrival, responding officers encountered an adult male in a parking garage who brandished and pointed a weapon at them, leading to the intentional discharge of a firearm by responding officer(s) as an attempt was made to take him into custody.
The male suspect was eventually taken into custody, a weapon recovered from the scene, and no injuries were reported by the suspect or responding officers. The suspect, a fifty-four-year-old male from South St. Paul, has been transported to the Dakota County Jail where he is being held on probable cause 2nd Degree Assault.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Force Investigations Unit was requested to the scene and the investigation into the actions of the suspect is being conducted by the West St. Paul Police Department upon our request.
We are grateful for the timely assistance of our partners with the Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, and West St. Paul Police Departments as we worked to bring this individual into custody, and to Eagan Police Department and Dakota County Sheriff’s Office for securing the scene.
DATE: July 24, 2024
INCIDENT: Dangerous Dogs
CASE FILE: 24001788
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
At approximately 6:00 a.m. on July 24th, 2024, officers with the South St. Paul Police Department were dispatched to Kaposia Landing, a large regional park located adjacent to the Mississippi River, on a report of an individual who had been attacked by multiple dogs. The victim in this incident sought refuge in a porta-a-potty to end the attack and to await the arrival of our responding officers. As our officers arrived on scene, the initial victim was located, and a search of the park was conducted for the involved dogs.
Shortly before 7:00 a.m., responding officers located black and brindle-colored Mastiff mix dogs roaming the park and regional trail system, displaying signs of aggression as our staff attempted to interact with them. While our staff was attempting to contain the dogs, they witnessed them chase and attack another park system user before running away again. City staff closed the park, advised numerous visitors to leave and summoned additional support to the scene. Officers with the South St. Paul Police Department, assisted by City of South St. Paul Parks staff, worked to contain these dogs for the next hour and a half to no avail, including contacting a local veterinarian for support.
As both dogs continued to display aggressive behavior, and given their propensity to continue to attack humans, responding officers were unable to allow them to continue to roam freely in the park system. With no owner(s) present to assist in controlling these dogs and all efforts thus far failing, they were dispatched by firearm given the inherent risk to public safety these two dogs presented.
Both dogs have been recovered and transported to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for nervous system disease testing.
An investigation into this incident is being conducted by the South St. Paul Police Department and additional information will be released as it is available.
DATE: September 18, 2024
INCIDENT: Weapon Involved Assault
CASE FILE: 24002302
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
On September 18th, 2024, shortly before 10:00 a.m., officers with the South St. Paul Police Department responded to the 2200 block of Southview Blvd on multiple reports of shot(s) fired. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male suffering from an apparent gun shot wound to the abdomen. Responding officers, along with staff from South Metro Fire provided emergency medical aid to the victim and he was eventually transported to an area hospital by M Health Fairview ambulance.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect and victim are known to each other, and this was not a random act of violence. While the suspect is not in custody at this time, we do not have information to support an ongoing risk to the public.
An investigation into this incident is being conducted by the South St. Paul Police Department, supported by the West St. Paul Police Department and the Dakota County Drug Task Force / Violent Offender Task Force.
DATE: October 4, 2024
INCIDENT: Mental Health Crisis
CASE FILE: 24002487
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
On October 4th, 2024, at approximately 8:00 a.m., officers with the South St. Paul Police Department began fielding 911 calls surrounding an individual perched upon a roadside billboard near the intersection of I-494 and Concord Street in the City of South St. Paul, displaying a homemade sign. Responding officers have made contact with the individual and through communication with him, discovered he is displaying a thought process consistent with an individual suffering from a mental health crisis.
While this individual is currently committing a trespass, information leads us to believe he is not suicidal, and his presence on this billboard does not interfere with the safe movement of traffic or present a public safety risk that would require immediate action by emergency responders. As such, the Dakota County Crisis Response Unit has been notified and our staff is working to support their efforts.
At this time, we are asking the public to refrain from calling 911 surrounding this incident. Our staff is aware of the situation, monitoring, and stands ready to support this individual when he is ready to come down.
DATE: November 15, 2024
INCIDENT: Bicyclist vs Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE FILE: 24-002866
BY: Brian J. Wicke – Chief of Police
On November 15th, 2024, at approximately 2:06 p.m., officers of the South St. Paul Police Department responded to a report a motor vehicle crash involving a bicyclist on 15th Avenue North at Wentworth Avenue.
Responding officers located the crash at this intersection and through preliminary investigation, learned that a sixty-one-year-old male from Bloomington, MN, was traveling southbound on 15th Avenue North in a passenger vehicle when he was struck broadside by a bicyclist, a fifty-eight-year-old male from St. Paul, traveling eastbound on Wentworth Avenue, who had passed through the posted stop sign.
The bicyclist suffered life threatening injuries because of this crash and has been transported to an area hospital. The driver of the motor vehicle remained on scene, is cooperating with the investigation and impairment is not suspected to be a contributing factor to this crash.
An investigation into this crash is being conducted by the South St. Paul Police Department, with the assistance of the Minnesota State Patrol. The South Metro Fire Department and M Health Fairview assisted with this crash.