Latest news with #RamseyCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ex-volunteer with Ramsey County Sheriff's Office youth program gets probation for sexually abusing girl
A former volunteer with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Youth Plus Program and one-time aspiring police officer was sentenced to two years of supervised probation on Tuesday for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl last year. Pao Ge Vue, 27, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty in April to an amended charge of gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct after reaching a plea deal that also included dismissing a felony count of attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Ramsey County District Judge David Brown followed the plea deal and stayed a nearly one-year jail sentence. The victim and father agreed with the plea deal, according to the county attorney's office. She wrote a statement for Brown to read prior to Vue's sentencing, but did not want it read aloud in court. According to the criminal complaint, the girl's older sister reported the abuse to St. Paul police on Jan. 30, 2024. She said the girl had attended the youth program two to three times a week over the summer and that Vue, who was her coach, often provided the transportation for her. The girl's family began noticing she was spending a lot of time going to the 'program' during off-hours. Her family also discovered that Vue was taking her to a workout facility in the evenings, 'which caused concern,' the complaint says. She told police that Vue touched her inner thighs five times, while also trying to touch her groin area before she told him to stop. She said that on two or three occasions Vue grabbed her hand to try and get her to touch his penis, which she refused to do. Vue also tried to kiss her, she told police. The incidents happened when Vue was driving her somewhere or at a gym not associated with the youth program. '(The girl) said as the touching occurred, she felt like crying,' the complaint reads. 'She was also scared and questioning herself as to why she was going with him.' She said Vue was in charge of her group and that he often would drive her and other kids to a park or field to work on skills for the sports they were playing. She lived closest to Vue so he would pick her up first and drop her off last. She said she spent time with Vue outside of his volunteering time with the program and that she felt obligated to do so because he bought her volleyball shorts, a gym membership, food and other things. She said Vue told her to wear the shorts and made sexual comments to her as she was working out at the gym. Vue told police he had become a volunteer with the Youth Plus Program in spring 2023 'because he wanted to become a police officer and thought it was a good career building move,' the complaint states. Vue acknowledged to police that he provided transportation for the girl and other juveniles, and admitted to hanging out with some of them outside of his volunteering time. He said he bought them items with his own money. When Vue was asked if he ever touched the girl or she touched him, he said he wanted to 'remain silent.' Vue's volunteer status with the program was terminated on Feb. 13, 2024. According to its webpage, the sheriff's office started the program in February 2019 and it 'introduces youth participants to athletics, outdoor activities, life skills, and literacy enhancement to improve reading skills. More importantly, this structured program helps prevent youth from becoming involved in criminal activity and helps them make more positive choices.' Escape of ex-police chief known as 'Devil in the Ozarks' has Arkansas residents on edge A former aide says Sean 'Diddy' Combs kidnapped her in a plot to kill Kid Cudi Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls 'absolutely gut-wrenching' moment of seeing George Floyd video Shooter in St. Croix County murder-suicide was arrested for domestic assault in 2023 Suspect in shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers railed against Gaza war in online posts Vue's attorney, Rachael Goldberger, said he became a personal care assistant after the allegations surfaced. He recently was told by the state Department of Health he would be disqualified because of the charges, according to Goldberger. Vue apologized in court and said he understands the 'seriousness of my actions' and that he 'will never make this same mistake again.' His sentencing also includes that he complete treatment or a counseling program recommended by probation and register as a predatory offender. He cannot have contact with minor females unless approved by his probation officer.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arson at TCAAP bunkers in Arden Hills under investigation
Arson at two old bunkers at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills sent smoke billowing into the air over the weekend. The underground storage bunkers were built out of creosote-coated heavy timbers, according to the Lake Johanna Fire Department. They were used for ammunition storage during World War II, but no longer held munitions or hazardous materials, said Fire Chief Tim Boehlke. 'Someone went through some real effort to light these fires and get them going,' Boehlke said of the Saturday fires. The bunkers are south of County Road I and Fairview Avenue. The area is difficult to access and there aren't fire hydrants. Fire engines and tankers, including from neighboring departments, had to bring in water. Firefighters stretched close to 2,000 feet of hose, Boehlke said. Lake Johanna Fire made the decision to allow the fires to burn themselves out, while monitoring the situation. One of the bunker fires was 'essentially out' by Sunday morning and the other was still smoldering as of Sunday afternoon, according to Boehlke. Anyone with information about the arsons can call the fire department at 651-415-2100 or the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. Prosecutor and defense make opening statements in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial Burnsville mother of 3 had previous no-contact order against her killer, charges say Founder of crypto platform Celsius Network is sentenced to 12 years in prison Former Lakeland contract employee given probation for theft from city Drunken driver who plowed into Park Tavern bar patio, killing 2, pleads guilty to murder
CBS News
30-04-2025
- CBS News
1 killed in Minneapolis shooting three blocks away from site of triple-fatal shooting
Possible gang shooting in Minneapolis leaves 3 dead, and more headlines Possible gang shooting in Minneapolis leaves 3 dead, and more headlines Possible gang shooting in Minneapolis leaves 3 dead, and more headlines As Minneapolis police investigated a triple-fatal shooting overnight, another fatal shooting broke out Wednesday afternoon, police said. The second shooting happened just three blocks away from the original site on the 1500 block of East 25th Street. Police received 911 calls around 1 p.m., and found a man in his 30s suffering from a gunshot wound, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. O'Hara said investigators are "not ruling out" that the shootings are related. A stray bullet from the shooting struck a nearby SUV, O'Hara said, passing beneath the legs of an infant and a toddler in car seats. Residents in the area are "obviously terrified," O'Hara said. He said police are pulling resources "city-wide," and are even asking for investigative help from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. O'Hara added that the shootings are possibly "associated with gang activity." "It's completely foolish and we cannot allow it to stand," he added. Tuesday's shooting broke out around 11:55 p.m. and involved five victims, three of whom died. The two others were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. No one has been arrested. WCCO Since then, investigators have followed "several leads," and are increasing police presence in the area "aimed at restoring a sense of safety," O'Hara said. All six people who were shot in the 24-hour span were Native American, O'Hara said. He added that police are working with American Indian leaders to collaborate on a community response to the tragedy.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ramsey County to pay $3.6M to family of hemophiliac who died after arrest, jail
Ramsey County has agreed to pay $3.6 million to settle a family's lawsuit after a 37-year-old man with hemophilia died following his 2022 arrest in St. Paul. The lawsuit alleged that the county and four correctional officers violated Dillon Dean Bakke's right to adequate medical treatment under the Fourteenth Amendment. The lawsuit was brought by the law firm Meshbesher and Student P.A. on behalf of Bakke's mother, Teresa Marie Schnell of St. Paul. According to court documents, Bakke, a graphic designer, caregiver at a long-term care facility and severe hemophiliac, was arrested by St. Paul police officers on suspicion of drug possession and taken to Ramsey County jail on Aug. 7, 2022. When he was booked, he had a laceration on his forehead and extensive bruising on his body. Court documents allege that jail staff was aware Bakke suffered from hemophilia and needed prescription clotting medication at any signs of bodily injuries. Despite this, attorneys alleged, he did not receive the medication or any medical treatment. 'The lawsuit alleges that during Dillon's three-day detainment at the jail, he suffered a medical emergency, specifically a brain bleed with corresponding serious and obvious neurological symptoms,' the law firm said in announcing the settlement. Bakke's condition was ignored and he was denied medical treatment for 30 hours, the firm said. 'On the morning he was to be released from custody, jail staff found him unresponsive on the floor of his cell. Dillon was transported to Regions Hospital where, despite the heroic efforts of his doctors and nurses, he never regained consciousness and tragically passed away on August 27,' the attorneys said. Bakke began displaying neurological signs and symptoms on Aug. 7 and 'began vocally and continually complaining about severe pain,' the lawsuit says. His condition deteriorated overnight and into the early morning hours of Aug. 8, 'at which point he was unable to stand or walk, and was yelling out in pain and yelling for his mother.' According to the lawsuit, correctional officers Xue Yang, Alex Grundhofer, Scott Brommerich and Antonio Rulli went to Bakke's jail cell, handcuffed him and carried him to a cell in the segregation unit, where they laid him down and left without reporting his condition to medical personnel or requesting medical treatment. In response to the settlement, a spokesman for Ramsey County said that the correctional staff notified medical personnel about Bakke's condition on 'multiple occasions' during this time in custody. The county's public health staff oversees all medical care in the jail, Ramsey County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Linders said. 'Public Health staff working in the Adult Detention Center are not supervised by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. Their training, supervision and medical decisions are the responsibility of Public Health leadership,' he said. 'During Dillion Bakke's time in custody, correctional staff promptly notified medical personnel on multiple occasions.' Linders said that each time medical personnel were notified, Bakke's condition was assessed by public health staff. 'Our sympathies are with Mr. Bakke's family,' he said. 'Everyone deserves competent medical care in jail.' The settlement is one of the largest of its kind in Minnesota, according to Meshbesher and Student. The lawsuit in Bakke's death followed a $3 million settlement in June 2023 involving another alleged case of inmate mistreatment and medical neglect at the Ramsey County jail. In that case, a woman said correctional officers tackled her to the ground when she was handcuffed with her arms behind her back. Her tibia was fractured and an artery was severed, but she wasn't taken for medical treatment for 17 hours, according to her lawsuit. Noah Feldman: Here is Harvard's best argument against funding cuts Farmington man repeatedly stabbed his wife amid cheating accusations, charges say Fairview Health Services sues UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Inver Grove Heights mom spared jail after 3-year-old son shot brother with her gun St. Paul man gets 24 years in federal prison for paying Philippines woman to produce child sexual abuse material
CBS News
04-04-2025
- CBS News
Man dressed as Amazon worker stole multiple packages in Twin Cities, charges say
A 36-year-old man is facing theft charges after multiple reports of stolen packages around the Twin Cities. According to a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County court on Friday, the man, from Andover, is charged with two felony counts of intentionally removing mail from a depository without claim of right. Two residents at an apartment on Ninth Lane in Anoka reported to officials that a package was delivered to their complex on March 19 at 3 p.m., charges say. When the two people tried to pick up the package eight hours later, the package was missing. Surveillance video showed a man, later identified as the 36-year-old, walking into the Anoka apartment wearing an Amazon vest around 9:37 p.m. and holding a package, according to the criminal complaint. The man then grabbed a package that was sitting on top of some mailboxes and left the complex, driving away in a tan or silver four-door sedan. Another resident at the Anoka apartment on March 11 reported that their package was taken. Charges say that surveillance video taken that morning showed the man arriving in a tan or silver sedan and wearing an Amazon vest. On April 2, four residents at an apartment on the 4100 block of Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights reported their packages missing, according to the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. Surveillance video at the Vadnais Heights apartment showed the man, wearing an Amazon uniform, enter the building holding a package, going to the mail room and leaving the package there, the sheriff's office says. The video then shows the man picking up packages lying on the floor and carrying them to his vehicle, later identified as a Honda Civic. Officials say Coon Rapids police officers located the Honda Civic with a matching license plate on April 3, and arrested the man after making a traffic stop. The sheriff's office says the man had several stolen packages from Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township, and an Amazon uniform with him at the time of the arrest. Officials have not said whether the man works for Amazon. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each offense.
