Latest news with #StearnsCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two injured when vehicle goes airborne north of Brooten, Minnesota, on Monday
May 20---- Two people were transported for treatment of injuries after a crash Monday afternoon near Brooten. Initial investigation by Stearns County Sheriff's Office deputies found that a vehicle had entered a ditch and the driver accidentally hit the accelerator. The car then struck a field approach and went airborne before coming to rest, according to a news release. A 2008 Ford Escape was traveling eastbound in the 47500 block of Stearns County County Road 27 when it entered the south ditch. The vehicle was being driven by Dawn Blume, 66, of Blume and her passenger — identified as Jeremiah Blume, 11 — were transported to Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood for treatment of injuries described in the as non-life-threatening. The crash was reported around 3:51 p.m. Monday about three miles north of Brooten in North Fork Township. The was assisted by the Belgrade/Brooten Police Department, Brooten Fire Department and Brooten Ambulance.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bloodhound Porter will help carry the K-9 load for Stearns County Sheriff's Office
Stearns County's newest K-9 officer is a bundle of enthusiasm. What else would you expect from a 10-month-old bloodhound? 'Porter' recently joined the Stearns County Sheriff's Office after a two-week extensive training course with his handler, Deputy Scott Fischer, in early April at Edisto Island, South Carolina. Deputy Scott Fischer and Porter, a new K-9 officer, are officers with Stearns County Sherriff's office. 'He's got a lot of puppy energy, but he loves to work,' Fischer said of Porter, who will turn 1 year old on July 4. Whether it's searching for a lost child or tracking a suspect, this new team will add to the capacity of the department. Stearns County has three other K-9s, one of which is a 6-year-old Storm, a bloodhound who works with Deputy Laura Berg. The other K-9s include a German shepherd and a Belgian Malinois. 'Those are the more typical K-9s that you think of, dual purpose dogs who patrol and detect,' Fischer said. 'It's not super common in this part of the country to have bloodhounds, but they're very good at tracking and they have a different demeanor so, in a case where you might be searching for a little kid you don't have to worry about him biting.' More: Cold Spring K-9 Officer Cash retires after 7 years of police service Under the direction of Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka, K-9s have become a priority. The department staggers their induction so they have a range of ages among the dogs, which typically work until they are 8 to 10 years old. Porter has essentially replaced Freddie, who recently retired after working with a different deputy. The K-9s can be called into action throughout Central Minnesota as not all counties have trained dogs. More: You're Not Alone nonprofit brings therapy dogs to St. Cloud schools Fischer, 28, joined the sheriff's department in 2023 after working five years in North Dakota and Minnesota as a registered nurse. Originally from the area, he studied at Concordia College in Moorhead before working at hospitals in Fargo and Brainerd. 'I started working before COVID, but even then I knew nursing might not be a long-term thing for me,' he said. 'I'd been thinking about law enforcement initially because I was interested in being a conservation officer with the DNR. I went back to school in an accelerated program at Central Lakes College for people who already have undergraduate degrees. With about 10 months training and a lot of hands-on experience, I was able to restart my career.' Fischer said he'd been thinking about taking on a K-9 from the moment he began working as a deputy. 'I always had a high interest, and once I got here, I found K-9 work attractive,' he said. 'There's a reason any seasoned law enforcement officer develops a real bond with these dogs. I'm basically with Porter every minute of the day, whether we're working or not.' Fischer's squad is specially equipped to carry the dog. Porter rides in the back seat, in a kennel directly behind the driver that is walled off from the right side of the rear of the vehicle, so Fischer can still transport a person if necessary. The left rear window is equipped with a fan, and sensors identify the inside air temperature. If it becomes warm, the window automatically retracts and the fan kicks in. In the event Fischer is outside the vehicle and the ambient temperatures and air conditioning don't counteract the heat of the summer, the squad will chirp its siren and lights to remind him or other officers to make sure Porter can get where it's cooler. Indoor kennels are also available for when Fischer is at the law enforcement center. Both Fischer and Porter are certified in urban and rural tracking, but Porter's education is constantly evolving. Fischer looks for opportunities daily to test and correct the dog's scent tracking. Recently, they two officers responded to a call about dead livestock and Fischer used the opportunity to have a colleague lay down a scent nearby in order to teach Porter not to be distracted by the scent from the dead animal. 'Most of his training so far has been around pets, dogs and cats, and in an urban setting,' Fischer said. 'I need to keep working with him so that if we're out tracking something and he runs across the scent of a squirrel, he doesn't forget what he's supposed to be looking for.' Fischer said the two-week training in South Carolina was mostly to benefit the handler with their new dog. Porter came from a Georgia-based breeder and was among the puppies Georgia K-9 NTC tested for susceptibility to a 'hunt drive' and their ability to hone in on human odor. Like his partner, Porter is always on call but doesn't have to be constantly on duty. He lives with Fischer, who is married and has two young children. 'He loves it, and he's real good with the kids,' Fischer said. 'He probably won't be fully grown until he's about 2, so it's important for him to have a chance to play and be a puppy, too. Our family has really taken him in and he's one of us now. He won't be a K-9 forever. The day will come when he gets to just be a dog and enjoy the later part of his life. But we're pretty excited about what's ahead.' If you'd like to meet Porter and/or Deputy Fischer, they will make a public appearance from 4-8 p.m. on June 12 at the Benton County Fairgrounds as part of a 'Handshakes with Heroes' reception for local law enforcement and first responders. 'I've been amazed at the feedback and the reaction people have had with him,' Fischer said. 'It's through community donations and fundraising that we're able to take on these dogs, and we're really looking forward to paying back that respect for the community we serve.' This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Stearns County Sheriff's Office adds 4th K-9 team to agency lineup
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Concern for safety of woman, 48, reported missing in central Minnesota
An appeal has been issued to find a 48-year-old woman reported missing from St. Augusta in Stearns County. The local sheriff's office says Rebecca Philippi was reported missing by family members, who said she left the place she was staying on May 1, and they have been unable to reach her or located her since. "The family also communicated a concern for her welfare," the sheriff's office said, noting they Philippi reportedly doesn't have her medication with her. Stearns County Sheriff's Office Authorities in Stearns County and Morrison County and local police in Sartell, St. Cloud, and St. Joseph have checked "several locations" without success. She should be driving a white Chevrolet Impala displaying Minnesota License HBL 599. She is described as 5'4" tall, weighing 180 lbs., with blue eyes and brown hair. Her last known location was the Willmar area. Anyone with information should call 320-259-3700. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement's latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man dies after corn planter pins him in Stearns County
The Brief A man is dead after being pinned by a John Deere DB66 planter in Stearns County on Tuesday. Authorities say he was freed from the planter, but died at the scene despite life-saving efforts. The incident happened when two men were working on the planter, which was believed to have hydraulic issues. NORTH FORK TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) - A man is dead after he was pinned under a corn planter in Stearns County on Tuesday. Big picture view Deputies from the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said they responded to a reported farm accident in the 26000 block of County Road 201 in North Folk Township, about four miles northeast of the City of Brooten, around 5:47 p.m. on Tuesday. Authorities then found a man pinned underneath a large John Deere DB66 corn planter that was having hydraulic issues. Investigators say the planter "suddenly and unexpectedly" lowered to the ground while the man was working on it. That man, Eric Scott Segaar, 46, of Brooten, died at the scene despite being freed from the planter and life-saving efforts from first responders. The Source This story used information shared in a news release by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Three injured in two-vehicle collision Sunday near Paynesville, Minnesota
Apr. 14---- Three people were transported to the hospital Sunday evening after a two-vehicle crash in Stearns County. According to a news release from the initial investigation showed that a 2008 Dodge Avenger, driven by John Weber, 55, of was driving southbound on County Road 16 and had failed to stop at a posted stop sign when it ran into an eastbound Dodge Durango SUV at the intersection with County Road 130 north of Paynesville. The eastbound vehicle was driven by Lisa Bagley, 67, of Bagley and her passenger, 21-year-old Joyanna Hellen, also from St. Cloud, both suffered injuries in the collision and were transported to CentraCare — Paynesville Hospital for treatment. Weber also suffered injuries and was transported to the Paynesville hospital. The crash around 5:47 p.m. Sunday remains under investigation, according to the release. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Paynesville Police and Fire and the CentraCare — Paynesville Ambulance.
