Police Reports

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office
Firearm malfunction: A 10-year-old male was airlifted to Duluth after a firearm malfunctioned.
Paul Schmidt, 44, St. Paul, and his son were firing an old homemade-type of handheld firearm at their cabin in Northland Township, south of Cotton, Tuesday morning. The family had used the device in the past, according to a police report. Schmidt’s son fired the weapon. It malfunctioned and broke apart. The boy was hit in the head by metal from the device, sustaining serious head and eye injuries, according to the report.

Koochiching County Sheriff Brian Youso urges boaters to use good judgment and exercise safety while boating over the July 4th weekend.
The holidays usually brings more boat traffic, he said and urged people to wear life jackets and to be familiar with the personal flotation device requirements. Most boats 16 feet or longer are required to have a Type IV throwable device, usually a U.S. Coast Guard approved boat seat cushion. Youso notes that this is a common boating law violation, although the requirement has been around for 12 years in Minnesota.

International Falls Police Department
Hit and run: A vehicle driven by Dana M. Stenberg was struck Friday at the intersection of Ninth Avenue West and Ninth Street.
Burglary: Heidi J. Krzoska, 607 Seventh Ave., reported Sunday that someone had entered her apartment through a window and took a Play Station 2, games, and medication.
Collision: A vehicle driven by Barbara J. Mitchell, 2156 County Road 121, struck Sunday vehicles owned by Robert R. Scholler and Shirley B. Melbo in the parking lot at 1300 Riverside Drive.

Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office

International Falls Police Department
Collision: A vehicle driven by Ruth L. Vacura, 68, 4202 County Road 107, struck a vehicle driven by Phyllis A. George, 63, Fort Frances, at 1306 Third Ave. W. Tuesday, causing more than $1,000 in damages.

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office

International Falls Fire Department
Fire: Firefighters were called to the residence of Harvey E. Streiff, 1112 Eighth St., at 11:37 p.m. Monday, for an outdoor fire. Grass was being burned outside the residence. Smoke had gotten into the house and the fire had begun burning the inside wall of the residence.

International Falls Police Department
Theft: Jerry L. Stevenson, 720 Eighth St., reported Wednesday that tools, valued at $1,200, were taken form a locked ice house located on someone else’s property.
Dog bite: Falls Memorial Hospital reported Thursday that it was treating Layni St. Peter, 4, for a dog bite.
Hit and run: Diane M. Peterson, 3075 Town Road 225, reported Friday that her vehicle had been struck in the Duluth Clinic parking lot, 2501 Keenan Drive.

International Falls Police Department
Theft: David G. Swenson reported Tuesday that 500 pounds of copper and an equal amount of lead and ground wire, for a total value of $1,200, was taken from Pelland Swenson, 324 Industrial Ave.

Ontario Provincial Police
Break and enter: Between 10 p.m. and midnight June 13, a male suspect kicked in a door of a residence in Emo and confronted the occupant before fleeing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.tipshelp.com.

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office

International Falls Police Department
Chiefs report, May 19-June 15: 669 calls for service; 87 recorded traffic stops; 44 arrests; 47 citations issued; three medical/detox/child welfare holds signed; 23 medical responses; eight alarm responses; three escorts; 23 other agency assists.

Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office
Theft: A 38-year-old female was arrested after Stephanie M. Knaak, 4432 County Road 91, reported on June 6 that two rings, valued at more than $10,000, and a credit card had been taken from her residence.

International Falls Police Department
Hit and run: A vehicle owned by Sharon A. Stomstad was struck while it was parked at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, 1416 Third Ave. W., Saturday. Damage was done to the right rear bumper, causing under $1,000 in damages.

Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office
Theft/criminal damage: Kur M. Pakingham, Center Point, Iowa, reported Friday that while his vehicle was parked in International Falls sometime last week, damage was done to a stereo, valued at $500, and a small television and DVD player was taken, valued at $1,200.

Cook Police Department

International Falls Police Department
Felony theft: A 22-year-old female was arrested for taking $2,500 from the residence of Miranda E. Westover, 805 Eighth St.
Property damage: Holiday Inn staff reported Wednesday that damage had been done to a door of a hotel room. The value of damage is unknown.
Attempted vehicle theft: Someone attempted to take a vehicle from the residence of Christopher A. Worley, 518 Seventh Ave. W., Wednesday.