A failed escape from jail

Noelle’s

Notes

Noelle Olson

There’s something about the sound of steel prison bars slamming behind you and trapping you inside. The moment I heard it, I had a jolt of panic. It started to get warm in that cell wearing that oversized orange jumpsuit. In the cell was a stained toilet, a tiny sink and a dirty mattress. Not to mention there were cockroaches on the floor and in the sink. It looked like there was vomit in the toilet or maybe it was something else. I heard a lot of commotion outside of the cell of people yelling but I couldn’t see anyone. I was locked in this cell with my friend because we were wrongly accused of stealing Brett Favre’s Super Bowl jersey and burying it under the U.S. Bank Stadium. While awaiting our trial, Packer fans were riled up and calling for our heads! We had to get out and escape this cold and docile place.

I should mention that we were not “really” in jail, we were in an escape room. I had heard about escape rooms before and thought they would be fun. I love playing games and this seemed to be something like a murder mystery dinner party. My friend and I decided to do something neither of us have ever done. We booked a date and thought it would be a piece of cake. Well, it wasn’t.

We had only one hour to break into the warden’s office and delete our “criminal file” and then we would be free. We were allowed six hints throughout the hour and frankly, it just wasn’t enough. It took us almost 15 minutes to get out of the jail cell! I ditched my orange jumpsuit because I started sweating and felt adrenaline rush through my body. We had to break into the police lockers to get into the wardens office. The clues were very well done. W hen we finally got into the warden’s office, we solved a few more clues and before we knew it, the hour was up. It was pretty embarrassing. We found out there was another hidden room we had to find. I tend to overthink things and that was true that day. I think people who play a lot of video games would be better at this than we were.

I read online that escape rooms are immersive experiences that encourage teamwork, solving puzzles and finding clues to complete an objective. They are educational, cognitive and provide a gaming experience like no other. This is true and now that I’ve had this experience, I can’t wait to see what the next escape room I will try to get out of next.

What’s in a name?

I recently received an email from the Social Security Administration with the most popular baby names in Minnesota for 2022. The top five boys’ names in Minnesota were: Oliver, Henry, Theodore, Liam and Jack. The top five girls’ names were: Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Evelyn and Nora. I’ve never seen my name on the list. Noelle is not a common name. In fact, I get called Nicole all the time by people – including people who’ve known me for a long time. I’ve also been called Noel, which to me is a boy’s name. I’ve known a few Noels in my life but only one Noelle. I asked my parents once why they named me Noelle and my mom said she had a good friend in high school named Noelle. I find that pretty funny since my mom never talks about her and I’ve never met her or seen a picture of her. A lot of people also ask me if I was born on Christmas. I always reply with the same answer — “I was born on Easter.”

Noelle Olson is editor of the Shoreview Press. She can be reached at 651-407-1229 or shoreviewnews@ presspubs.com.

Prioritize your safety while traveling

Each year around this time, when the weather becomes nicer in our great state, we here at the police department see an increase in traffic safety concerns. In Lino Lakes, the top concerns we hear from our residents are regarding vehicles traveling too fast and passing illegally. In addition to those concerns, our patrol officers frequently deal with distracted driving, and impaired driving.

unbelted occupants, and five were distracted driving.

Cops Corner

A lready this year, the Office of Traffic Safety, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, has reported 82 people have lost their lives on Minnesota roadways. Consistently, the top contributing factors of fatal crashes in Minnesota are speed, impaired driving, distracted driving and unbelted occupants. As of May 7, 22 of the 82 fatal crashes had speeding as a contributing factor, 14 were impaired driving, 19 were due to

H aving seen first-hand, the devastation of needless deaths as a result of unsafe driving, our police officers are dedicated to doing what they can to educate, enforce and deter unsafe driving. So far this year, Lino Lakes Police Officers have conducted 1,659 traffic stops, instructed teen safety driving courses, participated in focused traffic safety community projects based on citizen concerns, conducted multiple speed and volume data analyses, participated in multijurisdictional enforcement and education events as a partner in the Anoka County Towards Zero Deaths project, and participated in the Lino Lakes Traffic Safety Committee.

Our Traffic Safety Committee is a group of Lino Lakes employees who represent various city departments. Each committee member brings a unique and valuable perspective to the group, and as a result, are able to impact traffic safety concerns from a well-rounded, diverse, and efficient problem-solving approach.

T his spring, we encourage you to prioritize your safety while traveling – pay attention to your speed, consider using your cruise control, and stay focused on your driving. Before you leave, plan your route so you can adjust for any construction or traffic congestion and so you won’t be tempted to increase your speed to make up for lost time.

M ake a commitment to yourself, your family, and your friends to put your phone away while driving. It’s ok to let people know you don’t talk or text while you’re driving, and you’ll return their message when you arrive at your destination. Always wear your seatbelt – the safety systems that have been engineered into your vehicle depend on you being secured for them to function properly. Lastly, if you intend on drinking, plan ahead and organize a ride home with a sober friend, family member, or ride service.

It’s up to all of us to help make Minnesota roadways safe.

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Police Reports

The Lino Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plates in the 6700 block of Hodgson Road May 23. Following an investigation, the adult male driver was arrested and booked into jail for driving with a canceled driver’s license.

• An officer received a school bus stop arm violation report in the 7700 block of 20th Avenue May 23. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation in the area of Sunset Avenue and Apollo Drive May 24. The driver was cited for possession of marijuana, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• A community service officer received a report of a black bear eating out of a bird feeder in the 500 block of Marshan Lane May 24. The callers were advised to stay away from the bear.

• While conducting patrol, an officer located a vehicle in a city park in the 1100 block of Main Street after hours May 24. The officer advised the occupants of the park hours.

• An officer responded to a theft report of fuel at a business in the 7000 block of 21st Avenue South May 25. The incident is under investigation.

• An officer responded to the area of Hodgson Road and Birch Street for a grass fire May 25. The officer was able to extinguish most of the fire, but the fire division was needed to complete the fire suppression.

• An officer responded to a theft of a purse in the 300 block of Elm Street May 25. The incident is under investigation.

• Officers located drugs in a county park in the 7300 block of Main Street May 25. The drugs were collected and placed into evidence to be properly disposed of.

• An officer responded to a report of a lawn mower on fire in the 7200 block of Watermark Way May 26. Upon arrival, the officer found that a bystander had already extinguished the fire.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop

Public Safety Brief

Coffee with a Cop June 15

for lane use violations on I-35E. The driver was found to have a revoked driver's license and was in possession of marijuana. A citation was issued and the driver was instructed to wait for a valid driver.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 900 block of Main Street May 27 and found that the driver showed signs of impairment. The driver failed roadside tests and was arrested for fourth-degree DWI.

• An officer was dispatched to a house fire in the 7300 block of Watermark Way May 27. The fire was extinguished and fire personnel handled the investigation.

• Officers responded to a theft report involving a phone in the 700 block of Town Center Parkway May 27. Officers were unable to locate the phone, and a juvenile male was trespassed from the property.

• An officer responded to the 1900 block of William Lane on a report of a couple of people soliciting without a permit May 27. The males were spoken to about city ordinances and told to cease activity until a permit was obtained.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop for multiple traffic violations in the 700 block of Birch Street May 28. The adult male driver was arrested for third-degree DWI and booked into the Anoka County Jail.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations in the 400 block of Main Street May 28 and found the driver showed signs of impairment. The driver failed roadside tests, was arrested and later booked into jail for DWI.

• An officer responded to a report of damage to property/tampering with a motor vehicle in the 8100 block of Lake Drive May 28. The owner of the vehicle wanted the incident documented. No additional law enforcement action was taken at the owner's request.

• An officer responded to a personal injury accident involving a single vehicle on I-35E near Lake Drive May 28. The male driver declined medical attention and was subse - quently arrested for DWI.

The Centennial Lakes Police Department will host its next Coffee with a Cop event from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Rusty Cow in Circle Pines. The event offers community members an opportunity for an informal meet-and-greet with their local police officers.

• An officer responded to a call reporting a theft from a motor vehicle in the 7400 block of Main Street May 28. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation in the 7600 block of Lake Drive May 28. The officer observed two small children in the back seat that were not secured properly. Officers provided the family with two new car seats and helped with proper installation.

• An officer responded to a traffic complaint involving an ATV on the roadway in the area of Lake Drive and Pine Street May 28. The occupants were advised of city ordinances.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for unsafe driving conduct in the 7700 block of Lake Drive May 28. The officer discovered two open alcohol containers, and the two adult male occupants were cited for possession of an open bottle in a motor vehicle.

• Officers responded to a report of a personal injury accident in the 1300 block of Main Street May 28. Officers found the driver had minor injuries and chose to self-transport to a hospital. The vehicle was towed and a state accident report was completed.

• Officers responded to a call of a physical domestic at a residence in Lino Lakes May 29. An adult male was subsequently arrested and booked into jail for felony domestic assault by strangulation and obstructing the legal process with force.

• An officer responded to a park in the 2200 block of Tart Lake Road May 29 following a complaint about juveniles riding minibikes on the grass and paved trails. The officer spoke with several residents, but was unable to locate the juveniles.

• An officer took a report of suspicious activity in the 600 block of Oak Lane May 29. The complainant provided the officer with security camera footage, and the incident was documented.

Community Brief

AFS seeks host families

American Field Service (AFS) is currently seeking families to host foreign exchange students for the coming school year. Visiting students from any of 64 countries between the ages of 16-19 live as a member of the family while attend-

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents: ing school at Centennial High School. AFS families receive support, including orientations, cross-cultural counseling, social activities and more. To become a host family, or receive more information, contact Sue Davis at 763-784-9318.

• Officers received information regarding a possible theft in the 9200 block of South Highway Drive in Lexington May 24.

• Officers took a delayed theft report from the 1800 block of Main Street in Centerville May 25. There are no suspects at this time.

• Police were dispatched to the 9200 block of Lexington Avenue in Circle Pines for damage to property. One person was trespassed.

• Suspicious activity was reported in the 200 block of North Star Lane in Circle Pines May 27.

• A dog bite was reported in the 50 block of Golden Lake Road in Circle Pines May 27.

• Officers were dispatched to Golden Lake Park in Circle Pines for disorderly behavior May 27.

• Suspicious activity was reported in the 60 block of West Road in Circle Pines May 27.

• An officer witnessed a driver make multiple traffic violations in the area of South Highway Drive and Griggs Avenue in Lexington May 28. The male driver was stopped and ultimately arrested for third-degree DWI.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop in the 9300 block of Lexington Avenue in Lexington May 28. Two adults were ultimately cited for various narcotics offenses.

• A resident in the 9500 block of Griggs Avenue in Lexington called to report that their catalytic converter was stolen May 29. Another catalytic converter was reported stolen in the 30 block of Village Parkway the same day.

• Police responded to an appliance fire in the 8800 block of Griggs Avenue in Lexington May 29.

• Police responded to a trespassing report in the area of Woodland Road and Hamline Avenue NE in Lexington May 30. A juvenile male was caught climbing on the water tower.