Wednesday, June 18, 2025

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple burglaries that occurred over the past week in rural Hillman, (northeastern Morrison County). The break-ins have involved homes, seasonal properties, and outbuildings. Investigators are working to determine if the incidents are connected. Residents are urged to: Stay alert and report any suspicious activity. Note and report any unfamiliar vehicles or people. Secure homes, sheds, and vehicles. Consider using trail cameras or surveillance systems. If you have information, please call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233. For emergencies or if you witness suspicious activity in progress, call 911 immediately. Further updates when made available. 

The Little Falls Fire Department was called to 705 5th St SW on a report of a fire in a residence Monday night around 7:05pm. When firefighters arrived,  they found smoke,  but no active fire.  The police department arrived just prior to the fire department and was able to extinguish the active fire with a fire extinguisher.  Firefighters had to open up some of the wall and ceiling to confirm the fire was out. We also ventilated smoke from the residence. The fire was caused by an overloaded extension cord. Firefighters cleared the scene at 2010 hours.  We were assisted at the scene by the Little Falls Police Department. 

 

The National Weather Service has confirmed two tornadoes in Crow Wing County Monday afternoon. The first tornado was on the ground from 4:21 p.m. until 4:43 p.m. from Casino in Cass County into Gull Lake area of Crow Wing County. It was an EF1 tornado with a maximum wind speed of 100 miles an hour.  There were no injuries or deaths. The tornado was on the ground for 11.5 miles, and it was 400 yards wide. The second tornado was on the ground from 4:46 p.m. until 5:12 p.m. in Merrifield of Crow Wing County. It was an EF1 tornado with a maximum wind speed of 100 miles an hour.  There were no injuries or deaths. The tornado was on the ground for 10.9 miles, and it was 900 yards wide. Another tornado was confirmed in Todd County near Bertha that blew a roof of a barn and damaged other outbuildings and another tornado was confirmed in Nicollet County. The National Weather Service is continuing to investigate other parts of the state for possible more tornadoes that happened Monday. 

An ongoing law enforcement investigation into the trafficking, sale and use of methamphetamine in Cass County has resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of drugs and firearms. In a news release, Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reported the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine on Monday, June 16, pursuant to an ongoing investigation in Cass County and surrounding areas, including the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. A subsequent search warrant was served at a residence in Kego Township in rural Longville where numerous firearms were located and seized, Welk reported. Assisting in the operation was the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Welk added most investigations start with a tip from the public and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to report suspected drug or other crime-related information to the Sheriff’s Office. Those wishing to report suspected crimes can request to speak to the investigation staff and can remain anonymous. They can also report tips and information online through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota through its website at http://crimestoppersmn.org.

A candlelight vigil in remembrance of Melissa and Mark Hortman will take place on Wednesday, June 18 from 8-9:30pm on the steps of the State Capitol. The Capitol building will be closed to the public during this event. The event will not have a speaking program. Attendees are asked to bring their own candles. We are asking attendees to NOT bring signs of any kind. 

Six sheriff departments, including the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, have signed enforcement agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement this year. According to the ICE website, Cass, Crow Wing, Freeborn, Itasca, Jackson and Kandiyohi counties are participating in the agency’s 287(g) program . The three program models are jail enforcement, task force and warrant service officer. Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office signed an agreement for the task force model on March 25 and the warrant service officer program on March 27. The ICE website states that the Cass and Itasca county sheriff’s offices entered into task force agreements with ICE. Kandiyohi and Freeborn counties have a warrant service officer model, and Jackson County has both a warrant service officer and jail enforcement model agreements. The task force model allows officers to enforce limited immigration authority while performing routine police duties, such as identifying an alien at a DUI checkpoint and sharing information directly with ICE, though an ICE supervisor determines the next steps. These officers may also exercise limited immigration authority as active participants on ICE-led task forces, the ICE website stated.

A truck driver is okay after rolling his rig. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened on Friday at about 9:20am in Albany Township. Fifty-two-year-old Thomas Messer of Sauk Centre was traveling east on County Road 156 with an oil and propane fuel truck when the tires lost traction with the roadway.  The truck went into the ditch and rolled onto its roof in about three feet of water. Messer became trapped inside the cab of the truck and was unable to get out due to the truck being partially submerged.  He was freed from the cab by the Albany and Avon Fire Departments. He was checked out at the scene but reportedly had no apparent injuries.