BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES ROSE DOWNWIND MISSING PERSON CASE

            Over the last 50 days the Bemidji Police Department and Minnesota BCA have invested hundreds of hours into the disappearance of Rose Downwind. With the assistance of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Lakes Area Dive Team, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Red Lake Tribal Police, Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, Minnesota State Patrol, U.S. Border Patrol, FBI and other law enforcement agencies across Minnesota and adjacent states many leads and tips from the public were, and continue to be investigated.

          As a result of this collaborative effort a body has been located and exhumed from a shallow clandestine grave northwest of the City of Bemidji. The BCA Crime Scene Team was called to assist with the processing of the scene and recovery of the body. The body will be sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy and to confirm the identity.

          Marchello Anthony Cimmarusti, age 40 and Brandon Joseph Rossbach, age 31 have been arrested for their roles in this case. Christopher Davis remains a person of interest in this case. Although arrests have been made the investigative efforts will continue.

 

Mike Mastin, Chief of Police

Bemidji Police Department

218-333-9111

 

 

Bemdiji Police Identify Persons of Interest in Rose Downwind Disappearance

As a result of the continued investigation, the Bemidji Police Department and Minnesota BCA believe that foul play is involved in the disappearance of Rose Downwind. The investigation has been focused to an area north of the City of Bemidji to include; Lake Bemidji State Park and the Buena Vista State Forest. Specifically, the area between the north end of Lake Bemidji and Lindgren Road, between County Road 9 and County Road 23.

Marchello Anthony Cimmarusti, age 40 and Christopher John Davis, age 27 have been identified as persons of interest in this case along with a pewter colored 2002 GMC Yukon, MN plate #325MGP. If you saw these individuals or vehicle in this area during the period from October 19th to October 29th please contact the Bemidji Police Department immediately at 218-333-9111.

We are not looking for the vehicle or the persons of interest per se. We are trying to establish who may remember seeing the persons of interest or the vehicle during the time frame from October 19th to October 29th. We would like to hear from them.

Home and property owners in this area are requested to check structures and acreage for any signs of suspicious activity including: trespassing, recent fires or disturbed ground. Additionally, hunters are asked to check their trail cameras for suspicious activity, images of the persons of interest or vehicle.

We are asking for hunters and those out walking or inspecting their outbuildings to be vigilant for any suspicious signs, such as disturbed ground, recent fires or trespassing.  

ROSE DOWNWIND MISSING

 

 MISSING PERSON ROSE DOWNWIND 

 

 

The Bemidji Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating Rose Downwind. On Monday, October 26th,  City of Bemidji Police Detectives received information from an ex-boyfriend that he had last seen Rose Downwind leaving a residence on Stoner Ave. located in southeastern Bemidji on the morning of Wednesday, October 21st.  Downwind may have gotten into a blue vehicle (unknown make/model).  Downwind was last seen wearing a blue sweater and black pants.  Bemidji Police Detectives continue to investigate and follow up on leads provided by the public. Any assistance that the public can provide in locating Rose would be greatly appreciated. If you have any information regarding Rose Downwind's whereabouts please contact the Bemidji Police Department at 218-333-9111.

 

 

 

Accidental Death in Mississippi River

On Saturday, September 5, 2015, a citizen spotted clothing floating near the shoreline of the Mississippi River and contacted law enforcement requesting assistance.  Deputies drove to the scene identified by the complainant and there they located a deceased male in the Mississippi River between Lake Irvine and Lake 

Bemidji about ten feet from shore floating face down in the weeds.  The Bemidji Fire Department responded to assist in recovering the badly decomposed body.

The individual was identified as FRANCIS NORMEN SMITH age 65, of Bemidji.  An autopsy was conducted on Monday by the Beltrami County Coroner and his manner of death was ruled accidental.  Smith had no known  address and apparently had been camping nearby.

HOSTAGE SITUATION IN PUPOSKY

On 07/26/2015 at around 0630am the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a 76 year old male in Liberty Township requesting assistance with what sounded initially presenting  to be a medical.  Deputies arrived and found the male to be in a state exhaustion with reports from his girlfriend that he had not slept in days due to complications from Lyme's disease.  Arrangements were made for the girlfriend to leave and allow the male to sleep.

At around 1040am the 76 year old male contacted 911 and was speaking gibberish and not making sense.  In addition he was now talking about harming himself with a firearm.  To complicate matters his girlfriend had returned to the residence and she now was a hostage not being allowed to leave as she had made several documented attempts.   He refused to let her leave and was threatening her life.

Beltrami County Deputies and MN State Troopers responded once again and set up a perimeter near the residence.  Contact was made by telephone and negotiations began.  The 76 year old male reported having a Derringer pistol in his possession and this was confirmed by observation.

Members of the Headwater SWAT team responded to the scene along with Special Agents of the MN BCA.

Negotiations went on for over 5 hours.  Eventually, through planning and coordination the female hostage was able to make an escape from a second story window with the use of a fire ladder.  She was extracted and taken to safety by Headwater SWAT team members.

Minutes later the 76 year old male exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

He was evaluated on scene by Bemidji Ambulance personnel and transported to Sanford ER for a mental health evaluation.  

Additional responders:

Bemidji Police, Blackduck Police, Minnesota State Patrol, Bemidji Ambulance Service, Beltrami County Emergency Management and Communications and Bemidji Police Reserves.  The Hubbard-Wadena SWAT team responded but were called off due to the incident being resolved.

FATAL CRASH ON BIRCHMONT DRIVE

On July 26th at about 6:15 AM Beltrami County 911 Dispatch was notified by an alert Pioneer News Delivery Driver of a one vehicle rollover located in the 4500 block of Birchmont Drive NE in Northern 

Deputies responded to the scene and met with the caller and located the vehicle, a 2003 Mitsubishi 

Eclipse GTS, silver in color- which was overturned and covered by a pine tree and shrubbery.  The vehicle was occupied by an adult male, 20 years of age.  Bemidji Fire and Bemidji Ambulance personnel advised the lone occupant was found deceased upon their arrival.  

The investigation is ongoing and pending an autopsy today to confirm the identity of the victim and determine cause and manner of death.

Home Explosion in Grant Valley Township

The Bemidji Fire Department, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, and the Minnesota 

State Fire Marshal's Office continue to investigate the cause of a house explosion on 

Monday evening in Grant Valley Township. The cause does appear to be accidental 

in nature and investigators believe it may be related to a propane gas leak in the 

home. 

On Monday evening emergency responders arrived on scene to find an occupied 

home that was totally destroyed. Emergency services personnel located and quickly 

removed one victim from the debris who was in the home at the time of the 

explosion. He was transport to Sanford Hospital by ambulance. We have no 

additional information on his current status.

FATAL PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT IN BELTRAMI COUNTY

On January 21, 2015 at approximately 7:59 PM, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was notified of a crash in the 16000 block of Roosevelt Rd SE located in southeastern Beltrami County involving a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe with a snowplow and a pedestrian who had been struck by the vehicle.  Deputies and first responders who arrived at the scene found the victim on the side of the road.  The victim, a 32 year old male was unresponsive and immediate efforts were undertaken to save his life.  Bemidji Ambulance EMT's arrived on-scene and took over lifesaving efforts to no avail.  The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.  His identity will not be disclosed at this time until all relatives have been notified.

 

The investigation revealed the vehicle had been driving northbound and the victim was walking southbound along the west side of the road with two other parties when according to a witness the victim suddenly ran across the southbound lane into the path of the northbound vehicle and was struck.  The driver of the vehicle did not see the pedestrian as the victim was dressed in dark clothing.

 

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Pike Bay Township Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Cass County Sheriff's Office, Cass Lake Fire Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and Bemidji Ambulance.  This case remains under investigation. 

 

Additional information will be released at 4PM today.