Bemidji Police Investigates Police Officer Impersonation Scam

The Bemidji Police Department is currently investigating suspicious phone calls made by an unknown male subject. The Bemidji Police Department received 5 complaints on March 10^th, 2013 in which a male subject called local businesses and identified himself a police officer. Each time the subject spoke with female employees and asked for personal information such as an address, phone number and their physical descriptions.

 

The Bemidji Police Department recommends not providing personal information to people over the phone. If someone identifies themselves as a police officer, their questions will be of a professional nature and the officer will be able to provide identifying information. If you have doubts about an officer's identity, contact your local law enforcement agency.

 

 

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Bemidji Police Department at 218-333-9111.

 

Captain James Marcotte

Bemidji Police Department

613 Minnesota Ave NW

Bemidji, MN  56601

 

 

City of Bemidji Public Works Snow Removal Scheduled This Week

At midnight tonight, Tuesday February 19, 2013, the City of Bemidji will be removing snow from the curbs starting on Irvine Ave NW at 6^th St NW north to 30^th St NW and Irvine Ave NW.   Tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the same will occur on 15^th St NW and all of Birchmont Dr NW.  Snow will be hauled to a holding site on 15^th St NW.   Please make sure your vehicles are not parked in tow zones or the wrong side of calendar parking.  Watch for trucks and equipment removing and hauling snow as well.

Bemdiji Police Respond to Possible Suicide

On February 9^th, 2013 at approximately 1921 hours the Bemidji Police Department responded to the 400 block of Central Avenue SE on a request to check the welfare of a male who was possibly suicidal. Officers were informed that the male had several loaded handguns and a rifle, along with extra ammunition.

 

Bemidji Police Officers attempted to make contact and began evacuating the neighbors. The Headwaters SWAT Team was requested to assist. During the evacuation process Bemidji Police Officers heard a single gunshot from inside the residence. The SWAT Team was able to approach the residence and observed a male lying on a bed. Entry to the residence was made by the Headwaters SWAT Team where they confirmed that Ryan George Nelson, age 34, of Bemidji had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ryan Nelson was pronounced dead on scene by the Bemidji Ambulance Service.

 

The Bemidji Police Department was assisted by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Beltrami Office of Emergency Management, Headwaters Safe Trails Taskforce, Bemidji Fire Department and Bemidji Ambulance Service.

Sheriff Seeks Help with Blackduck Motel Robbery Investigation

The investigation continues into the armed robbery that occurred on New Year's Eve at 7:20 PM in Beltrami County.  We are asking for the public's assistance in locating and identifying the suspect.  If you were in Blackduck on this particular evening please think back to that time frame and examine anything you might have seen or heard that night.  Any vehicle or suspicious characters that were in the area of the Motel that night that you may have seen could be the catalyst to solving this crime. 

If you have any ideas, please contact the Blackduck Police Department at 218-835-4802 or stop any officer on the street and talk with them. You can also call the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office at 218-333-9111 or long distance, 1-888-449-9111 or Sheriff's Investigator Danelle Haugen at 218-333-8451.

You can also contact Crimestoppers at  (1-800-222-TIPS [8477]), online at www.crimestoppersmn.org, or by texting TIP674 plus a message to CRIMES [274637].  Tips to Crimestoppers that lead to the arrest and conviction of a suspect are eligible for a cash reward.

PUBLIC’S HELP STILL NEEDED IN LOCATING MATTHEW PULIS

Matthew Charles Pulis, age 31, of Bemidji, was last seen during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 20, 2012 in the downtown area of Bemidji. Mr. Pulis is described as a Caucasian male, 5'7", 165 lbs., blue eyes with longer light brown hair wearing a zip type dark blue hooded sweatshirt. 

 

Since that time the Bemidji Police Department has been investigating and following up all leads and information in an attempt to locate Mr. Pulis.  Efforts to include searching a 200 block, door to door, area where Mr. Pulis was last seen, as well as his residence, and an aerial search of Lake Bemidji and Lake Irvine have occurred. Numerous interviews have been conducted with those who might have knowledge of his activities.  His bank account has not been accessed since before his disappearance nor has anyone, to include his family, had contact with him.

 

The Bemidji Police Department continues to request the public's help in locating Matthew Pulis.   An updated picture, taken before his disappearance, is attached to this press release.

 

Bemidji Police Department Detective Mike Solheim is the lead contact for this case. He can be reached at 218-333-8373 or email msolheim@ci.bemidji.mn.us.  Citizens can also call the Bemidji/Beltrami Law Enforcement Center at 218-333-9111 or, if long distance, 1-888-449-9111.

 

His family would especially appreciate any information.  This continues to be a very difficult and trying time for them.

 

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