A look at the local law enforcement reports

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office shared a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center in early June. WTIP requested more information on a number of the incidents logged by law enforcement dispatchers.

June 2
12:17 p.m. A party called from Newport News, Virginia reporting a call from a 218-387 phone number saying their loan was not up-to-date. Cook County advised it was a fraudulent call and to ignore further calls from that number.
2:20 p.m. A party on Devil Track Lake called to request a water surface use permit.
9:19 p.m. A party reported an SUV with a pull-behind camper apparently camping on Pine Mountain Road. Party is concerned that the vehicle has out-of-state plates. The vehicle located, the party is parked legally, no fire.
10:49 p.m. Party called because neighbors have a bonfire going that is bigger than allowed. Smoke is causing health issues. Deputy checked the situation. The fire was in a cement block fire ring and was within the 3’x3’-parameters.
June 3
12:55 a.m. A party called saying he wants to swim in the lake, off the sandier beach by the Whole Foods Co-op tomorrow. He wants to make sure it’s okay and to let the sheriff’s office know in case someone calls to report a swimmer.
6:18 a.m. A caller reported a party in a gray Prius with a recumbent bike on the back staying overnight at the Pincushion Mountain parking lot. Deputy advised the party that no overnight camping or parking is allowed. Party said okay and sorry. Deputy noted that there is not a sign that states “no overnight parking.”
7:03 a.m. A party called to report a young boy walking up First Avenue in Grand Marais, near Harborview Apartments. The caller said the male seemed sneaky. Deputy did not respond to call as it is not illegal to leave a residence and go for a walk at 7 a.m.
7:31 a.m. A party called to report his keys locked in his vehicle. Just information, the party will call AAA.
8:18 a.m. A party on County Road 7 in Grand Marais asked the sheriff’s office to bring back the trailer with “Your Speed Is ___.” She thinks truckers should know their speed. The sheriff’s office brought the speed sign trailer back.
10:10 a.m. A party called to report a domestic disturbance that began because one party heard that the other was sleeping with someone else. Cook County responded and a female party was arrested.
10:17 a.m. A person received a phone call stating that their son-in-law was in jail and needed bail money. Party did not give money or personal information but wanted law enforcement to know about the call.
11:55 a.m. A monthly countywide pager test was conducted. All worked.
12:11 p.m. A party in Grand Marais states that they are being extorted because of a photo that was shared on a dating site.
12:42 p.m. Parties reported a large, low-flying aircraft east of Grand Marais. A deputy also saw the plane and said it was a C180. It was determined it was likely a training flight.
1:58 p.m. A party in Grand Marais reported someone parking in his driveway. The caller doesn’t want it towed but wants the party to not park there. The sheriff’s office spoke with the vehicle owner, who was doing some work on an adjacent property. The party will not park there again.
3:09 p.m. A party reported a fraud call.
3:30 p.m. A party called asking if he can “conceal and carry” in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Party does not have a permit to carry. Advice was given.
3:49 p.m. A party in Grand Marais reported that someone has been dumping trash into their dumpster. The latest person was an elderly man who dumped a bag of dog feces. A deputy spoke to the individual who admitted using the dumpster, apologized, and said he wouldn’t do it again.
5:20 p.m. There was a call of suspicious activity. The party called because an older, white male in an older white Buick was parked on a side street in Grand Marais.
7:07 p.m. A party called to report seeing a cell phone in a Grateful Dead case on Wisconsin Street in Grand Marais.
9:48 p.m. A white bichon fries Shih Tzu mix dog ran away. A phone number was left in case it gets turned.
June 4
6:49 a.m. A party in Grand Portage reported someone trying to build a fire on the beach. It is unknown if she should be there. The sheriff’s office checked and it is okay for her to be there.
12:50 p.m. Deputies changed the battery for a Project Lifesaver system at a residence in Grand Marais.
1:12 p.m. A call came in expressing concern about truck speeds on County Road 7, the detour for highway construction work. Law enforcement has a speed trailer out and deputies are working details to help with traffic speeds. Speeds recorded ranged from 25 to 38. The deputy reported that most of the faster speeds were passenger cars, not trucks hauling.
4:27 p.m. A commercial truck had a tire blow out and went off the road on the Gunflint Trail. See related WTIP story here.
8:02 p.m. Witnesses reported a party passing another vehicle going the speed limit in Grand Marais. Deputies located both parties at GoFer Cabins. One party admitted to driving conduct. The other party admitted to no insurance. Both parties received verbal warnings.
10:31 p.m. Customs and Border Patrol reported a Caucasian female in her late 30s seen on their cameras near the Middle Falls trail. The woman appears to be intoxicated. Parties will keep an eye out for the woman.
10:43 p.m. A wallet was found in the road on First Avenue and left on the sidewalk. Deputies picked up the wallet and using contents made several calls to find the person the wallet belongs to. The individual came in to pick up the wallet.
June 5
10:02 a.m. Notification of a family emergency was delivered to a party on Esther Lake Road in the Hovland area.
12:01 p.m. MnDOT stopped by the law enforcement center and asked if deputies could monitor the temporary light as people are running the light and causing traffic jams. Deputies will monitor on routine patrols.
12:34 p.m. A party called to report that her 2015 Kia Optima had been stolen. While on the phone, she realized she had moved it. She found the car in front of the Beaver House.
12:42 p.m. There was a collision between a Subaru and a Jeep. No injuries, no citation.
2:24 p.m. A collie named Honey was reported missing since 9 a.m. The owner called back at 2:40 p.m., Honey was home.
4:03 p.m. A party entered an area of a Grand Marais business closed to customers and left a cell phone there to charge. The business asked for assistance in getting the person to leave.
4:11 p.m. The sheriff’s office received a report of a scam call in Grand Marais.
5:29 p.m. A party from Iowa stopped on The Point and spread his one-man tent out on the grass to let it dry out. Another party came by in a dark, single cab, beat up looking pickup and said,” A good place to camp is out of town, go back to wherever the hell you came from, we don’t need tourists up here.” The truck drove off, and the reporting party later noticed his tent was missing.
8:54 p.m. There was a report of an unwanted person at a residence at GoFer Cabins (Village North).
11:57 p.m. The sheriff’s office received a complaint of loud music on Devil Track Lake.
June 6
12:27 a.m. A Grand Marais party called to report an intoxicated person. The party is on probation and should not be drinking.
4:45 a.m. Law Enforcement received a call from a party in Grand Marais that was possibly suicidal. Party was eventually transported to the hospital to talk to a doctor.
8:20 a.m. A motorist reported a red Dodge flying past them on West Highway 61. There was oncoming traffic and the Dodge did not slow down going through Lutsen. Sheriff deputies were unable to locate the red vehicle.
9:14 a.m. A caller reported two parties camping at the campground on Honeymoon Trail. A deputy found a campsite occupied and informed the party that they were not allowed to be there due to the Forest Service order of closure. The party requested information on where he could camp and the deputy gave him that information, along with a copy of the federal statute that closed the campground.
10:30 a.m. A motorist in a Rav 4 reported being passed by a black truck going extremely fast on West Highway 61. A deputy patrolled the area and there was no sign of the black truck.
3:12 p.m. The 9-1-1 dispatcher received calls reporting that someone “fell at the falls.” The call originated at Gooseberry Falls. Calls were transferred to Lake County 9-1-1.
3:19 p.m. A caller reported an injured goose on east Highway 61. The goose was dispatched.
6:40 p.m. A party called to try to let the owner of the car wash that the change machine was giving back more money than what was put in. Cook County found the owners to let them know.
7:59 p.m. A party was followed to her home by a white pickup. The truck turned around in her driveway. The caller said it looked like a sheriff’s office vehicle. Deputy confirmed it was a squad vehicle on patrol. They had to turn around in her driveway as there were few other places to turn around.
9:24 a.m. A party called for information on a local veterinary clinic.
9:42 a.m. Law enforcement received a second-hand report of a medical issue in Hovland. The call was referred to North Shore Health.
10:29 a.m. A party reported a deer with broken back legs halfway in the water, unable to get out at Temperance River. The deer was moved out of the canyon and dispatched.
2:57 p.m. A mother requested a welfare check for her son who had gone to a cabin yesterday and has not called, which is unlike him. Party was found safe. He just had poor cell phone service so he could not call.
3:34 p.m. Two young people attempted to cash a counterfeit $50 bill. The cashier knew it was fake and the sheriff’s office was contacted.
7:06 p.m. A parent called asking for help from Cook County Public Health and Human Services.
June 8
1:52 a.m. A motorist came into the law enforcement center to report a large tree down on Highway 61 at the county line. On investigation, it was found to have been intentionally cut. See related WTIP story here.

If you need to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, call 218-387-3030. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

WTIP Staff June 18, 2020