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Monday, August 08, 2022
Please spread the word! Public Safety night in Elrosa is Monday, August 15
Public Safety in the Park night is Monday, August 15 in Elrosa
Everyone invited to this family-friendly event for all ages!
The public from across the Bonanza Valley area and beyond are invited to the Public Safety in the Park night on Monday, August 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic church in Elrosa (302 State Street, Elrosa, 56325) Come and meet your local law enforcement, firefighters and EMS responders! Everyone is invited! This is a family-friendly event for all ages with FREE popcorn and drinks! Local agencies who will be present include the Belgrade-Brooten police department, Stearns County Sheriff, MN State Patrol, Elrosa fire department, Sauk Centre ambulance plus K9 officer Jax with handler Deputy Adam Johnson.
You can copy and paste the following link for easier sharing on email and social media = https://bit.ly/3A8p3Ju.
This is an active situation in Belgrade right now. An alleged stabbing happened on the north side of town on the far western edge in the trailer courts (not at a trailer house). That is why the town is full of police on Main Street, where they are staging the response.
A helicopter is on its way to town now to pick up the victim. *Update to that: the victim ultimately did not require use of the helicopter for medical care.
Everyone in town is advised to lock their doors and stay away from downtown Belgrade. If you have business to conduct on Main Street, call the business first before you come in. The downtown area has not been blocked off to the public, but the last thing police need is congestion down there while they are doing their job.
Again, this is an active situation, as of 12 p.m. noon.
*At 12:17 p.m., a large police presence moved to the trailer courts to re-stage. The K-9 unit has arrived. Traffic has been blocked off by a 2 to 3 block radius from the trailer courts.
**At 12:29 p.m., a team of at least 10 county SWAT police officers with long guns approached the house. I don't have a first-hand view of the home, so that's about all I can say at this point. I want to hold my position from the east and stay out of any possible direct line of fire.
**At 12:32 p.m., law enforcement hardened the perimeter at a one block radius, stopping all cars from getting closer.
**Good, great news: the victim is out and at the hospital. We should all be thankful for that!
At 13:44, I just counted 17 squad cars on Main Street.
*Here's video from downtown Belgrade on Monday afternoon at 13:38:
*Update: just shy of 2 p.m., and the police are preparing to get the perpetrator what's called a "throw phone" that's tossed into the house and used to communicate with them. Based on what I know, this could drag on for hours. Keep in mind: law enforcement's goal is to save everyone's life, including the perp. They will do everything they can to make that happen.
*Update at 14:36: here's a web link at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website that will include more information plus video and photos. Click here:https://bit.ly/3nQtVvs.
*By 3 p.m., businesses have re-opened from their earlier locksdown. Law enforcement is still in negotiation mode, so it could be a while before they release any additional information.
That's all for this blog post.
*Monday night update: the situation has ended, and there was no loss of life. A huge win for law enforcement.
To Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner: please instruct your deputies to drive the correct way when they're on the property of our B-B-E elementary school. Shown in the photo above is the exit to this side street. I know it's not marked, as I believe the "exit only" sign was taken down during repaving in 2014. I'll cut your deputies some slack up to this point.
Every other adult or teenage driver who visits our school manages to drive correctly and - especially during school hours or when buses are in their loading zone - know that this is a one-way street. Law enforcement should know that too. Often children are seen biking on this side street; sometimes it's baby strollers, or else it's simply parents dropping kids off and heading on their way to work. A driver going the wrong way on this street creates a dangerous situation.
And another thing, tell your deputies how to park their cars. They set a bad example when they park their squad cars nose to nose along a sidewalk. It just looks bad, especially when other children can see that taking place. What are your deputies trying to do? I fully believe that members in law enforcement should set a good example, especially to children.
I have personally seen a deputy squad car driving the wrong way down this side street during "dusk" hours. I am NOT impressed.
