Caledonia Argus

Juvenile admits to school break-in

Posted: 1/8/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

A burglary that occurred in Caledonia Elementary School the weekend of September 28-30, 2001 may be close to being solved, said Caledonia Police Chief Duane St. Mary.

The burglary was reported by ISD #299 Superintendent Percy Lingen on November 14, 2001 due to information that became available to the district.

According to St. Mary, a juvenile male has admitted to his and another personís involvement in the burglary. The boys are ages 14 and 15.

Entry was gained through the back door near the boiler room. The door was apparently unlocked.

The custodianís keys were taken and used to open up pop machines. About $200 in change was stolen.

The case is being reviewed by Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson.

Ritalin stolen over Christmas break

The Caledonia Police Department received a complaint from Caledonia Elementary School on Thursday, January 3, that some Ritalin had been stolen over the holiday break.

The thieves apparently used a key to unlock the medicine cabinet. That key was found on the cabinets.

Entry into the building may have been gained by going through the janitorís office said Chief St. Mary.

The theft was discovered after the pills were counted on Thursday, January 3. Records of drug counts are kept for medication.

Three cited for drugs in Houston

Three individuals in Houston were given citations for a large amount of drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana Friday, January 4.

Caledonia Police Officer Jim Logan was in Houston working on a burglary case when he observed a vehicle that would not dim its bright lights.

After pulling over the vehicle and talking to the driver, Nitro, the drug sniffing dog gave a positive indication of drugs.

Houston Police Chief Dave Breault issued the citations.

Church burglarized

On Sunday, January 6, Wilmington Church of Spring Grove reported that someone had broken into the church and stolen an electric piano.

Caledonia Rental reported the attempted theft of money from their coin machine for the car wash.

It appeared that a 3/4 inch pry bar was used to try to open the machine. The attempt was unsuccessful

Lucas Aasum of Caledonia Street reported that someone had tried to break into the trunk of his car.

Juvenile leads police on chase

After being pulled over for speeding near the airport at Hwy 44 and 76, a seventeen year old male led Caledonia Police Officer Jim Logan on a 10 mile chase.

The chase was stopped due to weather conditions.

The vehicle was eventually found by Allamakee County deputies in Dorchester, Iowa.

Four involved in weekend rollover

Four individuals escaped injury following a rollover on December 29, 2001, which was reported at 11:30 p.m on Beaver Ridge Road.

Those involved in the accident include Kristin King, 17, Jeni Fitzpatrick, 16, Jennifer Jo Schutte, 17 and Eric McCabe, 17.

Information on who was driving was not available.

No one was in or around the vehicle at the time the vehicle was located.

Charges still pending on seized drugs

Charges are still pending for a 22 year old woman who was arrested on October 13, 2001, by the Caledonia Police Department for possessing 5.5 grams of cocaine packaged for individual sale and 62 grams of marijuana packaged for individual sale.

The county is awaiting the results of laboratory tests from the BCA (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) that were taken of the substances thought to be cocaine and marijuana.

Chief St. Mary explained that the BCA is backed up by six months due to remodeling.

Lab results are due by April 2002.

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