Blackduck Americinn Motel Robbery New Year's Eve

                On December 31, 2012, Monday, at 7:22 PM, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting a robbery  had just occurred at the Americinn Motel in Blackduck.  The motel is located on Brandl Dr NW in the City of Blackduck approximately 25 miles north of Bemidji in Beltrami County.

                A male subject, approximately 6' tall, possibly in his early 20's with a deep voice,  wearing a light grey hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and a bright orange mask of some type covering his face entered the motel through the front lobby and demanded cash.  The suspect kept his hands in his sweatshirt pockets while observing the clerk.  After obtaining an undetermined amount of money he left immediately and was seen headed west on foot towards the American Legion.
                Beltrami County Investigators were able to obtain footage from surveillance cameras today (see photo) .
                The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating and identifying the subject.  Please call 218-333-9111 with any information that may help to solve this case.  The investigation continues.  Thank you.

Travis Burns and Cody Troy Arrested in Kelliher Bank Armed Robbery

On Wednesday,  December 12, 2012,  Cody Lowell Troy, 19 of Bemidji and Travis Michael Burns, 20 of Bemidji were arrested for Armed Robbery of the First State Bank of Big Fork in Kelliher which occurred on Monday, December 10, 2012. 

Both suspects are currently in custody in the Beltrami County Jail as the investigation continues.  Beltrami County Sheriff's Investigators received tips from the public that lead to the arrests of these suspects.  Good descriptions of cars seen in the area at the time of the robbery were provided by citizens which lead to finding the vehicle driven by these suspects during the commission of the armed robbery.  Investigators recovered a great deal of evidence linking these two individuals to the crime and both made admissions regarding their involvement to investigators during questioning. Investigators have subsequently learned that although currently living in Bemidji, both men grew up in the Kelliher area.

Investigators are still following up on information learned during searches for these suspects and are looking into the possibility of their involvement in other crimes. The case will be forwarded later today to the Beltrami County Attorney's Office for review and charging decisions.

Assisting the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office in this investigation were Bemidji Police Detectives, Special Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Paul Bunyan Task Force Officers, Koochiching County Sheriff's Office, Lake of the Woods County Sheriff's Office, Blackduck Police Department, Red Lake Tribal Police Department, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, Itasca County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Roseau County Sheriff's Office, US Border Patrol, US Customs, Kelliher Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol.  In addition, Code Red was used to inform citizens of the incident.

 

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

 

Travis Michael Burns

Cody Lowell Troy

TWO ARRESTED IN KELLIHER BANK ROBBERY

On Monday, December 10, 2012, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was notified of a robbery at the  First State Bank of Big Fork located on Main St in Kelliher MN.  Kelliher is located on Hwy 72 approximately 55 miles north of Bemidji in Beltrami County. 

 

A subject had entered the bank, dressed in a white hooded cloth or Tyvek type coveralls, with black tennis shoes and black gloves, along with a white plastic Halloween type ghost mask and carrying a large black bag.  The suspect brandished a shotgun with a silver type barrel at the bank employee and left on foot headed east from the bank. 

 

Investigators developed information that led to the arrest of two Caucasian male suspects from Bemidji today.  The suspects are currently in custody in the Beltrami County Jail as the investigation continues.  Investigators are still following up on information learned during searches for these suspects and no further information will be released at this time.  The identities of the suspects and additional details will be released tomorrow once the investigators have finished their investigation.

 

Assisting the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office in this investigation was Bemidji Police Detectives, Special Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Paul Bunyan Task Force Officers, Koochiching County Sheriff's Office, Lake of the Woods County Sheriff's Office, Blackduck Police Department, Red Lake Tribal Police Department, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, Itasca County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Roseau County Sheriff's Office, US Border Patrol, US Customs, Kelliher Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol.  In addition, Code Red was used to inform citizens of the incident.

Armed Robbery of Bank in Kelliher Monday

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call on December 10, 2012, at 2:27 PM from the First State Bank of Big Fork located on Main St in Kelliher MN.  Kelliher is located on Hwy 72 approximately 55 miles north of Bemidji in Beltrami County. 

 

A subject had entered the bank, dressed in a white hooded cloth or Tyvek type coveralls, with black tennis shoes and black gloves, along with a white plastic Halloween type ghost mask and carrying a large black bag.  The suspect brandished a shotgun with a silver type barrel at the bank employee and left on foot headed east from the bank.  An undetermined amount of money was taken.

 

No vehicle was seen in the area however information has been developed that a smaller passenger car, unknown color, with a 52-58" wheel base and 7 1/2-8" tires may have possibly been involved.

 

At this time, we have no absolute direction of travel.  We are asking that any citizens who are aware of someone who may match the clothing description or who appears to have come into a significant amount of cash with no apparent source,

 

Assisting the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office were BCA, FBI, Paul Bunyan Task Force, Koochiching County Sheriffs Office, Lake of the Woods County Sheriffs Office, Blackduck Police Department, Red Lake Tribal Police Department, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, Itasca County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Roseau County Sheriffs Office, US Border Patrol, US Customs, Kelliher Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol.  In addition, Code Red was used to inform citizens of the incident.

 

The investigation continues.  Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call 218-333-9111, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.

 

Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office of Investigations Will Host Public Meeting

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is releasing information pursuant to Minnesota Statute 244.052 to the community regarding a Level 3 Predatory Offender. This offender is not wanted by the police and has served the sentence imposed on him by the court.

 

Gerald Lee Jones, age 29, is being released into rural Ten Lakes Township area (Beltrami County) on December 18, 2012. He has a history of engaging in sexual contact with an adult female victim against her will. Contact included penetration. Offender used force, threats, and physical assault to gain compliance. Offender was known to victim.

 

A Community Notification Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, December 17, 2012, at 5 PM,  at the Ten Lakes Town Hall, 2142 Mission Rd SE,  located east of Bemidji approximately 12 miles on the Power Dam Rd SE and then south on Mission Rd SE – the Town Hall is on the corner of Roosevelt and Mission Rd on Mission Rd SE, on the east side of Mission Rd SE.  Representatives from the Department of Corrections and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office will be available to provide you with useful information on public safety.

 

Phil Hodapp, Sheriff

 

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

 

FACT SHEET

 

NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE IN MINNESOTA

 

RISK LEVEL THREE                  In addition to level two notification (schools and daycares as well as establishments and

organizations that primarily serve individuals likely to be victimized  by the offender), law enforcement may notify other members of the community whom the offender is likely to encounter.

 

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is available to provide you with useful information on personal safety.  The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office may be reached at (218) 333-4180.  To report criminal activity by this offender or any other individual, please call 911.

 

GERALD LEE JONES      

 

DOB:  12/19/1982

 

OID:  212092

 

Race:  American Indian	Hispanic:  No
Height: 5'09"	Eyes:  Brown
Weight: 156 lbs.	Hair:  Black
Complexion: Light brown	Build:  Slender

 

Registration statute(s):  609.342  & 609.255 (both charge only)                        

Investigating agency:  Cass County Sheriff's Office                                                   11/20/2012                                              11/20/2012

 

Release date:  12/18/2012

 

Supervision agent:  Michael Amble  218-308-2562

 

Offense:  Offender engaged in sexual contact and held victim (adult female) against her will. Contact included penetration. Offender used force, threats, and physical assault to gain compliance. Offender was known to victim.

 

Address:  1100 Block of Quill Lane Southeast, rural Cass Lake, MN 56633  (Beltrami County)

 

Date of address change:  12/18/2012

 

 

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052.  This statute authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sexual or predatory offender's release from prison or a secure treatment facility when the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office believes that the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.

 

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 243.166 or 243.167.

 

This offender is not wanted by the police at this time and has served the sentence imposed on him/her by the court.  This notification is not intended to increase fear in the community.  Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public.

 

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, the supervising release agent, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections may NOT direct where the offender does or does not reside, nor can these agencies direct where he/she works or goes to school.  The risk level of this offender has been determined based largely on his/her potential to re-offend based on his/her previous criminal behavior.

Convicted sexual and predatory offenders have always been released to live in our communities.  It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had an ability track the movement of these offenders after their initial release.  With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these offenders with the public.  Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered offender is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime.  Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications.  If community notification ends the only person who wins is the offender.  Many of these offenders derive their power from the opportunity that secrecy provides.

Fire at Birchwood Color Center in Bemidji

Bemidji Fire Department responded to a fire in a multi-business
commercial/residential building Thursday morning in Bemidji. The fire,
which was reported at 10:49 AM by numerous passing motorists, was
located in the 3400 block of Bemidji Ave North. Bemidji Firefighters
arrived on scene to find a large volume of smoke exiting the from the
roof area of the business. Firefighters encountered extensive fire
inside the structure, however were able to confine the fire to the
business of origin. Blackduck and Cass Lake firefighters supplemented
the 30 Bemidji firefighters on scene. Three Fire Engines and a Ladder
Truck along with a large tracked excavator were used on the scene. The
businesses and apartment were unoccupied at the time of the fire. The
fire departments were on scene approximately 8 hours. The fire caused
an estimated $410,000 in damage to the structure and contents. The
cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Bemidji Fire
Department, Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office and Bemidji Police
Department.

DAMAGED TREES POSE RISK THIS WINTER

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management
would like to remind our citizens of the potential risk damaged trees
pose following the destructive straight-line wind storms on July 2nd
and July 4th, 2012. A large number of trees remain standing, but are
damaged, fractured, and weakened as they were battered by wind, rain,
and hail during these storms. In the event of a heavy snow or ice
accumulation and combination of wind, these weakened trees will likely
succumb to the weight of snow and ice and fall to the ground or across
power and utility lines.

Winds well in excess 85 miles per hour on July 2nd carved a path of
extensive tree damage across a large part of southern Beltrami County,
followed by winds in excess of 70 miles per hour across most of the
county on July 4th. As the leaves fell from trees this season and
visibility into our forests improved, it revealed just how extensive
damage to our wooded areas is following these storms.

If you observe an area where damaged trees pose a risk to utility
lines, contact the appropriate utility company and advise them of the
situation so the risk can be mitigated. In the event of a winter storm
causing downed power lines, assume the line is active and report it to
911 immediately. Do not cross downed power lines.

Beltrami County will likely be feeling the effects of these
destructive storms for years to come. Downed timber will continue to
dry out and will be a wildfire concern as it was this fall with the
severe drought conditions. The weakened trees will also be susceptible
to future storms in the coming years.