COPS&COURTS

Police Reports

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• Police responded to a property damage accident report at Griggs Avenue and South Highway Drive in Lexington Jan. 18.

• O fficers responded to the 60 block of School Road in Circle Pines for a report of disorderly conduct Jan. 20. The case is active pending attorney review.

• A n officer was dispatched to Center Park in Circle Pines for a possible robbery in progress Jan. 21. A juvenile male was subsequently arrested for fifthdegree assault.

• A n officer observe a vehicle traveling at high speed in the area of Lake Drive and Griggs Avenue in Lexington Jan. 21. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle was ultimately towed.

• A n officer observed a traffic violation near the intersection of Golden Oak Road and Oak Leaf Lane in Circle Pines Jan. 21. An adult male was subsequently arrested for habitually driving after revocation and fifth-degree possession of drugs.

• A n officer observed multiple traffic infractions in the area of Griggs Avenue and Lake Drive in Lexington Jan. 22. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and a male driver was arrested for thirddegree DWI.

• O fficers responded to the 9000 block of South Highway Drive in Lexington for a report of a person making threats Jan. 22. The case is currently active.

• A n officer observed a vehicle make several traffic violations near the intersection of Lake Drive and Pointcross Drive in Circle Pines Jan. 23.

The Lino Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• A n officer assisted a neighboring agency on a traffic incident in the 7200 block of Main Street Jan. 17 that resulted in the driver being placed under arrest.

• O fficers responded to a report of financial transaction card fraud in the 500 block of Apollo Drive Jan. 17. Officers documented the incident and will be investigating further.

• O fficers responded to a report of a shoplifting theft in progress in the 700 block of Apollo Drive Jan. 17. Upon investigation, officers located two suspects. They determined a theft was committed by a suspect, and then determined that the second suspect was wanted on outstanding warrants. Citations were issued to both suspects and the second suspect was arrested and booked at jail on warrants.

• O fficers responded to a miscellaneous report of an incident at a school at 400 Elm Street Jan. 19. The investigation is ongoing.

• A n officer observed a vehicle displaying expired registration from several years ago in the 8000 block of Lake Drive Jan. 19. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the driver was issued a citation with multiple violations.

• A n officer stopped a vehicle for having a license plate light out in the 7400 block of Forest Lane Jan. 19. The driver was subsequently arrested for driving after revocation and having no proof of insurance.

• A n officer responded to a report that the roof of a building in the 700 block of Lois Lane had collapsed Jan. 20. Officers arrived to an abandoned building and learned that the roof had collapsed the day before. Proper safety measures were taken to disconnect utilities.

• A g uest at a local fitness center needed assistance in getting into a locker Jan. 20. Assistance was provided.

• A n officer conducted a traffic stop for multiple traffic violations in the area of I-35W and Main Street Jan. 21. The adult male driver was arrested and booked at jail for second-degree DWI.

• A n officer stopped a vehicle for speeding on I-35E Jan. 21. The adult male driver was subsequently arrested for fourth-degree DWI.

• A n officer attempted to stop a vehicle for multiple traffic violations in the 2100 block of Main Street Jan. 21. The vehicle failed to stop for emergency lights, but eventually stopped. After a short investigation, a male driver was arrested for DWI and other charges.

• A n officer received a call of a 911 open line at a closed business in the 7100 block of Otter Lake Road Jan. 22. The officer made a traffic stop and ultimately cited an adult female for driving with a revoked license.

W hile on patrol in the 200 block of Main Street Jan. 22, an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver was subsequently arrested for DWI and booked at the Anoka County Jail.

• A n officer responded to a report of fraud in the 6400 block of Killdeer Drive Jan. 23. The officer investigated and found the victim had been coerced into paying money to an unknown person. The investigation is ongoing.

Prepare your home for cold and wind in the coming weeks

With bitter cold and strong winds expected to sweep through Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota in the coming days, Xcel Energy has provided a few tips to save money, stay safe, report outages and stay informed when severe weather strikes. Losing power can be a major inconvenience, but there are steps you can take to plan and prepare for weather that may cause outages.

While natural gas continues to be the most affordable way to heat a home, with prices higher than usual, it’s a good time to consider ways to conserve energy as temperatures drop.

Here are ways customers can save energy and money this winter:

• L ower your thermostat a few degrees, ideally to 68 degrees or lower.

• Adjust your programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature while you are away or while you sleep.

• During daylight hours, open drapes and blinds to maximize heat from direct sunlight. To retain heat, keep them closed when it is dark.

• Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to push warm air down from the ceiling, adding comfort and savings.

• Keep interior doors open to help circulate air more freely and maintain constant heating levels.

1. Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume an electric line, even one that is on or near the ground, is energized and therefore dangerous. Never, under any circumstance, touch or move a downed power line. If you come across a downed power line, leave the area and report it immediately by calling 1-800-895-1999.

2. Build a home emergency kit. Assemble an easily accessible kit that can be used in the event of a power outage. Useful items may include:

• B attery-powered radio or television

• F lashlights

• B atteries B ack up phone chargers

• A phone that does not require electricity

Non-electric alarm clock

• Bottled water and nonperishable food

• M anual can opener

• F irst aid kit

• Extension cords (for partial outages)

M anufacturer’s instructions on how to manually open poweroperated doors (e.g., garage doors)

3. Meter safety. Keep your natural gas meter clear by gently removing snow or ice from around and on the meter, associated piping and the roofline above. Icy build-up can dangerously interfere with the flow of natural gas to and from your meter, and accumulated snow can prevent the meter from operating properly by stopping the flow of natural gas. A snow-covered meter could also lead to a loss of service and freezing of inside pipes as a result of lost heat. Customers should also clear a path to their gas meter to allow quick access in case of an emergency.

4. Heating safety. If using a space heater, take care to ensure safety. When using a space heater, make sure the heater has the label showing it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory, and read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels. Additionally, inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs and connections; don’t use it if they are frayed, worn or damaged. Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room and don’t go to sleep with a space heater on.

5. Food safety. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food safety is directly related to the temperature of the food. To maintain refrigerator and freezer temperatures, keep doors closed as much as possible. A full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for approximately two days and a half-full freezer approximately one day.

From press release