Woodbury police reports: Suspicious fires, street brawl, man with 'sticky fingers'

A bank official at Anchor Bank, 1920 Donegal Drive, reported March 15 that someone attempted to conduct a wire transaction on one of the bank’s accounts. Investigation revealed the suspect was a disgruntled former employee connected to a Woodbury address. The bank said the Woodbury listing may have been phony.

Police were called March 15 to a residence in the 11000 block of Dogwood Road, where several traffic signs and other items had been placed in the yard.

A shoplifter was caught March 15 at Gordman’s, 8268 Tamarack Village. The suspect, a Maplewood eighth grader, admitted to pocketing a $5.35 pair of earrings. She was trespassed from the business and issued a juvenile theft citation.

Police and firefighters responded to a garage fire March 16 in the 2000 block of Vining Drive. The fire was extinguished by officers. A witness reported seeing the garage door open earlier in the day as it was being readied for rental by property management. Suspects, who fled the area a half-hour before flames appeared, had been seen in and around the garage smoking cigarettes. Three juvenile male suspects were described.

A resident in the 7800 block of Newbury Court called March 16 to report a fire in a neighbor’s backyard. The caller, who reported a “terrible” smell, was told by the officer that the neighbors were having a bonfire. The complainant told the officer she didn’t know what bonfires were or that they were permissible. The officer drove past the bonfire, which was attended to and in compliance with city law.

A resident in the 8400 block of Savanna Oaks Lane reported a possible gunshot form behind her house. Other people in the area also reported hearing an explosion sound, though its origin was not located by police.

Police responded March 16 to a bike theft report in the 1700 block of Century Circle. A resident there said two unsecured bicycles placed in an underground garage were stolen. The man called police the next day to report the bikes reappeared. He suspected someone took them for a ride.

A Woodbur woman reported March 17 that her wallet was taken from a shopping cart at Target, 7200 Valley Creek Plaza. She suspects she accidentally left the wallet in the cart after unloading her purchase. The wallet was gone when she went to retrieve it.

A Mariner Way resident reported March 17 that his vehicle was stolen from his driveway. The man told police that he had recently bought the vehicle, a 2012 Ford pickup, with cash and woke up to find it missing. Loss: $34,000.

Police responded March 17 to a home in the 10000 block of Ashley Lane for a carbon monoxide alarm. The resident reported symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure. Xcel Energy was notified.

Police were called March 17 for a fight outside Ray J’s American Grill, 9854 Norma Lane. A woman on the scene with a bloody lip told officers she had been hit in the face. She refused an investigation into the matter.

Officers responded March 18 to Country Inn & Suites, 6003 Hudson Road, for reports of people in the parking lot drinking from beer bongs and playing loud music. Police made contact with the suspects, who complied with orders to return to their rooms.

Police responded March 18 to the 10000 block of Eagle View Place for reports of a fight in the street. A Woodbury woman was transported to Woodwinds Health Campus for an evaluation. She was cited for disorderly conduct. A North St. Paul man. a Cottage Grove man, a Maplewood woman and a White Bear Lake man were also cited for disorderly conduct. All parties involved had some degree of minor injury, police reported. One combatant claimed the brawl began after the Woodbury woman spat on the White Bear Lake man while he was in a car. The North St. Paul man and the Cottage Grove man were jailed.

Police and firefighters responded March 18 to a fire at Evergreen Park East. A plastic slide at the park was found burned out. No suspects.

Two people were chased out of a home March 19 in the 8600 block of Hudson Bay after a resident was awakened by the sound of her interior garage door opening. A witness saw two males in the residence and chased them from the home. A Coach purse and its contents were missing from inside the residence. A tool bag with tools were missing from the garage, as well as a garage door remote. No suspects were located by police.

A resident in the 6100 block of Upper Afton Road reported March 19 that his vehicle was stolen from his driveway. The victim said the keys were left in the vehicle, a 2003 Ford Focus that reportedly stalls at red lights. Loss: $5,000.

Police were called March 19 to a burglary in the 700 block of Martha Lane. A resident reported someone entered the home’s basement window and took prescription medication and jewelry while she was away. The complainant sustained a medical emergency while meeting with police. She was not hospitalized.

Police were called March 19 to Walmart, 10240 Hudson Road for a shoplifter in custody. The suspect, a North St. Paul man, admitted to leaving the store without paying for more than $40 in window decals, paint scraper and sandpaper. He told police unprovoked that “I had a bad case of sticky fingers tonight.” The man was cited and released.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime