USPCA Region 12 Patrol Case of the 4th Quarter, 2007
Officer John Jorgensen and K-9 Major
On 11/11/07 at 2300 hrs Officer Jorgensen assisted with a perimeter in an industrial area. Earlier officers had stopped a vehicle and learned from the driver that she had been paid $20.00 to drop off and assist a male party in breaking into unoccupied buildings and stealing items for salvaging. While on perimeter the suspect spotted another officer and fled on foot. Officer Jorgensen and K- 9 Major attempted a track. A large 40 acre perimeter was set up. Many of the buildings are vacant and set for demolition. They cleared 4 buildings which totaled approx. 170,000 square feet. the buildings were in poor condition with exposed wires, flooded basements and ceilings partially torn down. They cleared acres of woods, open areas and parking lots which had approx. 150 semi-trailers with negative results. As they approached the last two structures, K-9 Major began air scenting and picked up up a fresh scent. Oficer Jorgensen noticed serveral doors had been forced open. A K9 announcement was given, and they received no response. K9 Major searched the main floor and worked toward the loading/storage area of the warehouse. K9 Major worked until he found a staircase leading to second floor offices. K9 major climbed the stairs in the dark and pushed himself through a door at the top of the stairs. K9 major engaged the suspect in a back office. The suspect had hidden himself under several sheets of drywall and insulation. K9 Major held the suspect by his lower leg until officers could handcuff him. The search included 190,000 sq ft of structures and approx 25 acres. The suspect was taken into custody over 2 hrs after they started searching. Both the male and the female were arrested for 2nd degree burglary and possission of burglary tools.
USPCA Region 12 Narcotics Case of the 4th Quarter 2007
Trooper Doug Rauenhorst and K9 Zena
On November 8, 2007 at 0825hrs Trooper Rauenhorst was traveling NB on I35 in Steele Co when he stopped a Ford Expedition for speeding. he received serveral indicators of criminal ativity from both the driver and the vehicle. He then ran his K-9 Sonja around the vehicle. He started on the front driver's side. K-9 Soja began to sniff intensely, alerting to the odor of the drugs on the driver's side and began to go low to the underside. They continued to the back of the vehicle and K-9 Sonja began to sniff intensely at the back of the vehicle, she went away from my lead and went to the under side of the vehicle. She would not leave the back of the vehicle and began to scratch indication to the odor of drugs in that location. She was rewarded. Trooper Rauenhorst looked under the vehicle and noticed fresh handprints under the body of the vehicle adn on the fuel tank. He noticed the bolts were tampered with on the fuel tank itself. The vehicle was then towed to Owatonna. The vehicle was put on a hoist and a scope was used to observe an object in the fuel tank. It was then cut open revealing 3 metal boxes. The metal boxes were cut open and 114 lbs of compressed marijuana were found. The driver was charged and the vehicle and $271.00 in cash was seized.