The following incidents were reported to River Falls Police Department July 5-18.

Tuesday, July 5

At 7:44 p.m., police received a call from a 17-yearold River Falls juvenile who reported a man with a gun had been watching her and her friend as they skipped rocks on the Kinnickinnic River near McDonald’s (1505 Paulson Road). The man had been yelling at them and making them uncomfortable. They described him as skinny, tall, bearded and wearing jeans. When he left, an unknown woman approached them and told them a man with a gun was watching them from behind some bushes. She walked the juveniles to the road and told them to tell their parents. When officers arrived and searched the area, they found a Steel Reserve beer can and a pack of cigarettes, which the girls said the man had set down. They also found a CO2 BB handgun tucked into a bush, along with three CO2 cartridges nearby and several BBs. Further south down a mown pathway, officers located a black truck parked in the wood line. The two occupants, a woman from Gilbert, Minn., and man from Mountain Iron, Minn., said they were homeless and had been told they could put a tent up there. They reported chasing the man with the gun off after seeing him watch the girls. They said he grabbed a bike from the woods and took off south down Main Street. The couple, who was cooperative, were told they could camp at Hoffman Park and followed police out of the woods since they were on private property.

Wednesday, July 6 Bobby Don Salas, 40, Hudson, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. at Hoffman Park (547 Hanson Drive) for a Department of Corrections warrant. He was taken to St. Croix County Jail without incident. Police found him camping in a tent at the park.

Officers were called at 4:04 a.m. to 254 S. Apollo Road for an unwanted man causing a disturbance. The complainant reported that a man who had previously lived there had been staying there for a few days while she was gone on vacation. When she and her children returned, he was highly intoxicated and trying to start fights. He eventually left on foot with his dog. Police didn’t locate him and the complainant decided not to fill out a statement a few days later.

At 9:30 a.m., a city employee found graffiti on an entrance sign and concrete barrier at the White Pathway (374 S. Winter St.) Words were painted with red, black and blue paint. Graffiti was also found on the old train track barriers and a bench.

A BP (700 N. Main St.) employee reported a gas drive-off at 3:03 p.m. The card reader had an error, so the employee didn’t think it was intentional. A suspect was identified.

Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 6:07 p.m. at South Main Street and Cemetery Road between a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer, driven by William Patrick Gannon, 42, River Falls, and an unknown vehicle that fled the scene. Gannon was traveling south on Main Street and stopped at the Main/Cemetery Road intersection to make a lefthand turn. The suspect vehicle was behind Gannon and rear-ended him. Both vehicles turned left onto Cemetery Road; Gannon attempted to wave down the suspect, who was driving a newer model gray SUV, but they fled. He did not get a plate number. Gannon’s vehicle had minor damage. He and two passengers, ages 11 and 9, wore seat belts and reported no injuries.

Thursday, July 7

An officer on patrol located a vehicle on a jack with two missing wheels at 2:07 a.m. in the 200 block of East Walnut Street. The vehicle’s owner, who was at work, said he had given no one permission to take the tires from the vehicle’s driver’s side. The lug nuts and hub cabs were lying on the ground next to the car. At 3 a.m., St. Croix County Dispatch reported that a woman in Hudson had confessed to her role in the tire theft, naming a 35-year-old Hudson man as the thief. Police responded to her location at 648 Commerce Drive in Hudson and retrieved the tires from her vehicle’s back seat and trunk. She said she and the man had been dumpster diving in River Falls when he decided to take the tires, which she claimed to want no part in.

A City of River Falls employee reported graffiti at 11:50 a.m. and 11:56 a.m., found at Glen Park (361 W. Park St.) and the White Pathway (374 S. Winter St.) Black and gold Sharpie letters were found on a bathroom stall door in the east bathroom at Glen Park, which took about two hours to remove. Next, the word FADE was found in red paint twice on a White Pathway bench, along with pink paint and four black lines.

At 3:08 p.m., Waste Management reported that a garbage truck was leaking hydraulic fluid at Spring and Second streets and vehicles were driving through it, spreading it around. It began to rain, which washed the fluid into the sewer system. An estimated 40 gallons of fluid had leaked from the truck onto the streets and in the Holiday parking lot. Police contacted the DNR and RF City Wastewater Superintendent Dan Seemuth. Bay West, an environmental clean-up company, arrived to clean up the mess, which took about four to five hours.

Friday, July 8

An Ellsworth woman reported damage to her van at 8:06 p.m. while it was parked at South Third and East Walnut streets during the River Falls Days Parade. It appeared a child had driven a Hot Wheels car across the vehicle, causing scratches. Police also found small handprints on the vehicle.

Officers were informed of a hit-and run at 9:46 p.m. that had occurred sometime between 6:15 and 8 p.m. in the Family Fresh parking lot (303 S. Second St.) Allison Rose Bronk, 25, Prescott, had parked her 2013 Chevy Impala in the lot near Main Street. When she returned, there was a dent in the rear driver’s side bumper. She believes someone backed into her vehicle during the parade.

At 11:51 p.m., Kevin Russell Pechacek, 64, River Falls, struck a deer on Highway 65 just north of the Frontage Road with his 2019 Range Rover. The vehicle had functional damage; Pechacek reported no injuries.

Saturday, July 9 Beau Allen Merriman, 24, River Falls, was arrested for felony bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping and a warrant after police caught him urinating next to a car at 12:58 a.m. near Main and Maple streets. Merriman was also cited $124 for urinating in public. Due to violating his bail bond absolute sobriety requirement (he registered a 0.199 BAC), he was transported to Pierce County Jail.

David Daniel Cardenas,

23, River Falls, was arrested and cited $861 for OWI-first, $861 for operating with PAC and $124 for operating while suspended after a traffic stop at 3:03 a.m. in the 100 block of North Main Street. Cardenas’ vehicle stopped near an officer on foot patrol and had noticeable damage. The driver’s side front tire was missing and it was riding on the rim. The passenger side had damage all along the doors and rear quarter panel. Cardenas said the tire blew out in a roundabout in Roberts; he was coming from New Richmond’s Fun Fest. He asked for a bathroom but urinated on himself as he was getting out of the vehicle. After field sobriety testing, police arrested him and brought him to RFPD, where he registered a .16 BAC. After booking, police gave him a ride home and released him to a sober adult.

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 12:40 p.m. on Maple Street just west of Second Street between a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Hunter Weston Cary, 19, Oakdale, Minn., and a legally parked 2021 Honda Odyssey, owned by Adrian Leighton Brown, Stillwater, Minn. Brown was legally parked in an angled parking space on Maple Street. Cary was traveling west on Maple Street toward Main Street when he struck the back driver’s side corner of Brown’s vehicle. Cary said he was distracted while talking to his passenger. Both vehicles had functional damage. Cary and passenger Gianni Amalina Bonaccorso, 17, West Allis, reported no injuries. Cary was cited $111.40 for inattentive driving.

Officers were called at 11:10 p.m. to Broz Bar (127 S. Main St.) for an ID check. The suspect, identified as Taylor Jane Weick, 20, Hudson, had already left, but staff confiscated her fake ID. She will be cited.

Parker Allen Vogler, 24, New Richmond, was cited $124 for vomiting in public at 11:35 p.m. in the doorway of 123 N. Main St. Another man was trying to hide him from view.

Sunday, July 10 Donavon Aloise Filla, 23, Osseo, was cited $124 for littering at 12:45 a.m. after breaking a beer bottle in Veterans Park.

At 12:18 a.m., an officer saw a man hanging out of the passenger door of a vehicle, appearing like he was going to jump out, near Main and Pine streets. The man eventually shut the vehicle’s door, but police pulled the vehicle over near Main and Summit streets. The passenger, identified as Devin Deone Johnson, 25, Maplewood, Minn., said he and his girlfriend (the driver) were arguing over something that had occurred at Shooter’s Pub. He had been trying to jump out of the vehicle because he was upset with his girlfriend. After interviewing both parties, Johnson was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct and transported to Pierce County Jail.

Officers were called at 4:39 a.m. to 320 N. Second St. for a possible domestic in progress. The caller said he heard a woman scream that someone was trying to strangle her. When police arrived, they spoke to both parties, who have a history of police calls. It was unclear what had happened because their stories differed. There was no sign of physical contact; the woman eventually left to go home to her residence.

At 5:52 p.m., police were made aware of a hit and run crash at Sixth and Maple streets. An unknown vehicle had hit a utility pole and left the scene.

At 8:17 p.m., a motorist called police to report a man had thrown a water bottle at a motorcycle at Main and Division streets. The man, who had been sitting at the intersection on and off for several days, had thrown the water bottle at the motorcycle and laughed. The complainant filled out a statement. When police drove by the intersection, the suspect (known to police) was there. He appeared to be yelling at people as they drove by.

Monday, July 11

At 1:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to 1520 River Road Road for a possible intoxicated driver who had been drinking heavily. When police arrived, the suspect vehicle was in the driveway unoccupied and no one answered the door. At 2:14 p.m., officers were alerted the vehicle had left the house. An officer located it at 2:24 p.m. when it returned home. Police approached the driver, Allison Karen Sura, 36, River Falls, who did not appear to be impaired. She refused to perform field sobriety tests and police didn’t force her since she didn’t appear intoxicated. As family members arrived, she refused to tell them where the car keys were. Officers were dispatched again at 4:25 p.m. when the vehicle left the house, but when they arrived, the vehicle had returned home and no one would answer the door. Officers cited her $150 for ignition interlock device tampering/fail to install/violate court order and $124 for operating while suspended. They left the citations in the mailbox.

At 8:54 p.m., a resident at 654 River Ridge Road reported finding a black, white and tan Border Collie. Police drove around attempting to find the owner but couldn’t. After bringing it to the police department kennel, the owner contacted police at 10:50 p.m. and reported his dog missing. The two were reunited.

Officers responded at 10:44 p.m. to a home in the 400 block of South Wasson Lane for a juvenile complaint. A mother caught her two children smoking a vape in a bedroom and wanted police to respond. Both kids denied smoking a vape, but the mom did confiscate rolling papers and a container of THC from one bedroom. Officers attempted to talk to the kids, but they didn’t respond.

Tuesday, July 12

Police responded to a bus vs. light pole crash at 2:39 p.m. at Glen Park (355 W. Park St.) The bus was trying to leave the west parking lot by turning east on West Park Street when its rear-end swung out and struck a light pole. The top lamp portion fell to the ground and was badly damaged.

At 10:20 p.m., police were called to a residence in the 400 block of South Wasson Lane when a juvenile missed curfew again. Police found the juvenile in a car outside the residence with an Ellsworth juvenile, who tried to conceal a vape pen from officers. The Ellsworth juvenile vomited twice from anxiety and was told to go home (after officers offered EMS and he declined).

Wednesday, July 13 Lilia Marina Gualan, 28, River Falls, was arrested and cited $200 for operate without valid license (second within three years) after a traffic stop at 3:50 a.m. at Fourth and Walnut streets for operating left of center and speeding. After booking, she was given a courtesy ride home.

At 11:35 a.m., a homeless woman called police and said several items were stolen from her while she was living at 332 Quarry Road, including $160 in cash, Lenovo tablets, two sweatshirts, a woodburning kit, a Social Security card, her driver’s license and three journals. The thefts occurred sometime between May 29 and July 3. She said a lot of people come and go at that address, so she had no solid suspects.

At 1:05 p.m., an officer noticed graffiti on two no parking signs in the 100 block of South Third Street. The graffiti included the words “Cheif,” “Whaters” and a snake.

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 7:30 p.m. in front of 215 N. Winter St. between a 2017 Ford F150, driven by James Lloyd Nicolet, 71, Strum, and a legally parked 2013 Chevy Cruze, owned by Jennifer Lee Willi-Rivera, River Falls. When Nicolet backed out of the driveway, he hit Willi-Rivera’s vehicle, which was parked on the side of the street. Both vehicles had functional damage. Nicolet and passenger Barbara Jo Nicolet, 72, Strum reported no injuries.

Jacob Gerald Shilts, 27, Downing, was arrested for felony bail jumping (four counts), misdemeanor bail jumping, probation hold, operating while revoked, ignition interlock device/failure to install, possess drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed knife after a traffic stop at 9:03 p.m. at Highway 35 and Main Street for operating while revoked. Passenger Kelly Denise Kirkland-Flatt, 50, River Falls, was arrested for felony bail jumping (two counts), misdemeanor bail jumping (two counts), possess drug paraphernalia, a probation hold and possess illegally obtained prescription. Numerous drug paraphernalia items were confiscated and destroyed. Shilts was also cited $150 for ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order and $250 for operating while revoked (alcohol related). Both parties were transported to St. Croix County Jail.

Thursday, July 14 Kelly Elizabeth Ness, 21, River Falls, was arrested on a felony Missouri warrant at 11:03 p.m. at 123 ½ S. Main St. She said she had rented a U-Haul vehicle tow dolly with an ex-boyfriend in Missouri and he had ditched it in a field. She was transported to Pierce County Jail without incident.

Friday, July 15 Miranda Ann Miller, 24, Hudson, was arrested and cited $187 for possession of THC and $187 for possess drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop at 12:38 a.m. at Main Street and the north Highway 35 on ramp for operating without headlights or tail lights. Police seized and disposed of a vape cartridge, four glass jars containing marijuana, a black grinder, two torch lighters, four vape pens that tested positive for THC, THC wax and an open Vizzy Seltzer can. After booking, she was released to a friend.

Police responded at 10:20 p.m. to the laundromat (1025 S. Main St.) for a theft. A 40-year-old man said he’d run out to his car quick while doing laundry and left his wallet on a table inside. When he returned, the wallet and a man who had been inside were gone. He said the man had been dancing oddly, staring out the window and talking to himself. A possible suspect was named and police requested surveillance footage. The complainant reported that someone attempted to use his cards at Holiday, BP and in an online casino in the days after the theft.

Saturday, July 16 Uriel Lopez Farias, 27, River Falls, was cited $124 for operate without valid license after a traffic stop at 1:06 a.m. at State and Foster streets. Police stopped him for coming to a complete stop at two intersections that had no stop signs.

At 10:52 a.m., a resident at 1063 E. Cascade Ave. reported receiving a fraudulent check for four dresses she had sold on Poshmark. The check was for $30.

At 4:51 p.m., police were called to BP (700 N. Main St.) for a gas drive-off totaling $92.35. The employee had written down the suspect’s license plate number because he felt something was off. The man, identified as a Plum City man, drove off without paying for the gas. When police attempted to contact him, twice he answered the phone and said they had the wrong number. The case is under investigation.

Zachary Michael Minnich, 30, River Falls, was cited for possess drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop for speeding at 8:10 p.m. at Main and Broadway streets. Minnich was a passenger in the vehicle and admitted to having a grinder and marijuana pipe in the vehicle.

Police were dispatched at 11:08 p.m. to a backyard physical domestic at 555 Marcella Court. A couple, Ross Duane Brannon, 46, Champlin, Minn., and his wife, Amanda Jo Brannon,

44, Champlin, Minn., were camping at his mother’s in a tent for the weekend with their three children. The mother said the couple had been drinking all day and an argument erupted when a neighbor came over. She called police when the couple started wrestling on the ground. The three children, ages 2, 9 and 12 were in the tent when police arrived. Ross Brannon, who registered a .260 BAC, was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct and taken to jail, while charges will be referred to the district attorney for Amanda.

A UW-River Falls officer called in damage to a street sign pole at 11:32 p.m. at Sixth Street and Cascade Avenue. The pole appeared to have been hit by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Sunday, July 17

An officer stopped to check on a man who had fallen from a bicycle at 1:17 a.m. near Main and Division streets. The man walked his bike to the public parking lot across from St. Bridget’s, where the officer saw what looked like a firearm on his right hip. The officer requested backup, at which time the man went behind a utility box and put the firearm in his backpack. As he approached police, they saw he also had a knife on the backside of his pants. He allowed them to secure the knife and another one and said he’d just moved to River Falls from Virginia. He was intoxicated and had lost his glasses and was trying to make it to the home where he was staying. Police confirmed with dispatch that the man, Robert Buetow, 52, River Falls, had a full extradition warrant from Virginia Beach, Va. And was considered to be armed and dangerous. Officers found two CO2 powered BB guns that looked like real firearms in his possession. Once told he was under arrest, he told police he should have taken out the guns and made officers shoot him. Police took him to the hospital for clearance before taking him to jail.

Police responded at 12:45 p.m. to BP (1553 Paulson Road) where someone attempted to use a card that had been stolen two nights prior from a laundromat. The employee provided police with video surveillance of the people who tried to use the card, along with their license plate number. Police tracked down the vehicle as it entered Cudd’s Court (1450 S. Wasson Lane). The driver, Tyesha Shatara Davis, 31, River Falls, said she’d borrowed the vehicle from a friend, which was confirmed. In the vehicle and in Davis’ backpack, police found numerous debit/cash cards belonging to other people, including the man who had reported his wallet stolen at the laundromat. After speaking with a neighbor who admitted to being with Davis at BP, the neighbor said Davis had received the stolen cards from a man who stole the wallet. Ultimately, Davis was arrested for financial transaction card – fraudulent use, theft – movable property and misdemeanor bail jumping and transported to Pierce County Jail, where she was booked and released. She claimed to not know where the cards had come from or who they belonged to. Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at 3:24 p.m. at Main and Vine streets between a 2011 Toyota Rav4, driven by Natasha Ann Swedenborg, 50, River Falls, and a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Mckenna Marie Anderson, 25, Hudson. Swedenborg said she had stopped at Vine and Main streets due to a person in the crosswalk and Anderson, who had looked down at her GPS, rear-ended her. Both vehicles had minor damage; both drivers and one passenger with Anderson, age 1, reported no injuries.

Police responded to a vehicle vs. motorcycle crash at 4:26 p.m. at Main and Walnut streets between a 2015 Indian Chief, operated by Patrick Joseph Manning, 36, River Falls, and a 2006 Kia Amanti, driven by

Ronald C. Wolf, 72, River Falls. Manning said he was stopped at the red light on Main facing north when Wolf struck the side of his motorcycle. Wolf appeared to be confused and had trouble speaking. Police determined he was having a medical incident and transported him to his residence. The motorcycle and Kia both had minor damage. Manning and his passenger, Alice Marie Dishman-Manning, 35, River Falls, wore helmets and reported no injuries. Wolf also reported no injuries. He was cited for operate without valid license due to expiration.

Monday, July 18

At 4:59 p.m., a resident reported a theft from a vehicle that had occurred at 5:30 p.m. while he was parked at Dick’s Fresh Market (1121 S. Main St.) or while parked at his residence (296 Nicole Lane) from 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. July 15. A Leo diamond engagement ring was taken from the center console. It was worth $6,000.

At 6:15 p.m., a resident at 1450 S. Wasson Lane returned from work to notice the branches on his tree were cut off. There were also tire marks on his lawn. He was advised to contact the landlord, since other properties had tree branches cut as well.

Officers responded at 7:27 p.m. to Glen Park (355 Park St.) for a suspicious man complaint. Dispatch reported a man had been staring at little girls; some of the girls said he touched their butts and approached them. He was described as 6 feet tall, darker toned skin, in his 30s or 40s with short black hair and no visible tattoos. The man was alone in the deep end of the pool watching people and didn’t appear to be with anyone. The case remains under investigation.