Bear Break-in, Deadly Crashes, TJ Maxx Maced: Washington County Public Safety Roundup

The following is a collection of articles that appeared on Woodbury Patch, Stillwater Patch and Oakdale Patch from April 15-20. Click on the headline to read the full article.

Selected calls to the Woodbury Public Safety Department from April 2-8.

Updated: Woodbury Man Dies Following Car Crash

Colin K. Geraghty died following the Saturday crash on Interstate 494.

Two explosions rocked the race’s finish line Monday. (Scroll below the Storify post to see names of the Woodbury runners.)

Since 2000, natural disasters have claimed the lives of 21 Minnesotans and caused more than $373 million in federally declared damages.

Charges Filed in Laptop Theft at Central Park in Woodbury

The victim gave chase and police later caught up with the alleged culprits. The computer was returned.

Passerby Puts Out Car Fire at Parking Lot of Wendy's in Woodbury

The incident happened a little before 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Woodbury Man Sentenced in New Life Church and Academy Burglary

James Howard Smith initially blamed the thefts on “Green Eyes,” an individual police learned was in custody at the time of the theft.

Slick Roads Make Driving Treacherous for Woodbury; Fatality Reported on I-94

There were nine incidents on Woodbury roads as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday. A driver was killed in a crash on Interstate 94 near Highway 95.

Police: Gun-Safety Instructor Fires 1911 Colt 45 Inside School Cafeteria

A 76-year-old Cottage Grove man was “very apologetic” to police about the incident saying, “you gentlemen can’t imagine the embarrassment I feel towards myself for what took place." The instructor told police "he assumed the weapon was empty."

Explosions Rock Boston Marathon; 9 Stillwater Runners Participating

Nine Stillwater runners were participants of today's Boston Marathon, which was rocked by two explosions near the race's finish line. (Scroll below the Storify post to see names of Stillwater runners.)

Blocks Away from Boston Marathon Explosions: Lake Elmo Woman Recounts 'A War Zone'

“All of a sudden I heard two huge blasts—and everything went silent," Chris Hess-Withbroe said from her Boston hotel room Monday evening. "Next thing I knew I saw people running hysterically through the streets."

Update: Black Bear Breaks into Home on Stageline Road

John Stary called police at about 8:43 p.m. Monday to report that a black bear had climbed through a window and was walking around inside his home.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week is April 21-27

The Minnesota Alliance on Crime and its partners are sponsoring events in the Twin CIties during National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Video: A Snowy Spring Tornado Drill

There will be a second statewide drill at 6:55 p.m. Thursday.

Update: Houlton Teen Identified as Victim in Fatal Crash on I-94 in Lakeland

A 16-year-old boy from Houton, Wis., died in a crash on I-94 near Stagecoach Trail Thursday evening in Lakeland, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Update: TJ Maxx Provides Video of Chemical Incident to Police

In a statement, a TJ Maxx spokesperson said there are protocols in place that stores need to follow before releasing video surveillance footage, and "while it took a bit longer than we would have liked," police have been provided the video.

Selected calls to the Oakdale Police Department from April 5-12.

Explosions Rock Boston Marathon; Oakdale Runner Participating

One Oakdale runner was a participant in Monday's Boston Marathon, which was rocked by two explosions near the race's finish line.

Two explosions occurred the afternoon of Monday, April 15, 2013 near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.

Community Looks to Help Victims of Oakdale Fire

The Woodbury Dance Center, where a fifth-grader from the destroyed Oakdale townhome takes lessons, is collecting gift cards for the family.

Oakdale Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Neighbor

Joshua Adewale Olaosebikan faces a first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

Phony Oakdale 911 Call Prompts Legislation from Sen. Susan Kent

The bill was Kent’s first to pass through the state Senate.

Parents Talk: Discussing Tragedies in the Media

How do you explain incidents like the Boston Marathon bombings to your children? Share your ideas in the comments section below.

Marathon Bombing Sends Shockwaves Across Country

Across Patch's network of 900 sites, people felt the effect of the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Oakdale Fire Blotter: April 6-12

The Oakdale Fire Department provides residents with its calls for service each week.

Video: KSTP Coverage of Benefit for Oakdale Shooting Victim Devin Aryal

The event was held at Duke's Pizza Pub & Grill on April 13.

McCollum on Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Capture: 'Nightmare Has Ended'

Law enforcement captured Boston bombings suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev on Friday, April 19.

According to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, the following people made their first court appearance recently on felony or gross misdemeanor charges:

• Ryan Patric Aasand, Cottage Grove, Cottage Grove Police Department, I: Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent; II: Damage to Prop-1st Deg-Value Reduced Over $1000
• Joshua Adewale Olaosebikan, Oakdale, Oakdale Police Department, I: Criminal Sexual Cond-1st Degree-Penet or Contact Under 13-Injury-Use Force/Coerce
• Chiquita Delores Jordan, Minneapolis, Oakdale Police Department, I: Financial Transaction Card Fraud-Use-No Consent; II: Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent
• Jennifer Lynn Hagelberg, Oakdale, Stillwater Police Department, I: Drugs - 5th Degree - Possess Schedule 1,2,3,4 - Not Small Amount Marijuana; II: Traffic - DWI - Operate Motor Vehicle - Alcohol Concentration 0.08 Within 2 Hours
• Jennica Lee Kosloski, Siren, WI, Forest Lake Police Department, I: Aiding and Abetting Financial Transaction Card Fraud-Use-No Consent
  Steven Michael Kruger, Forest Lake, Forest Lake Police Department, I: Dangerous Weapon – Firearm Burglary-1st Deg-Poss Dangerous Weapon/Explosive; II: Burglary-1st Deg-Assault Person In Build/On Property; III: Burglary-1st Deg-Assault Person In Build/On Property; IV: Aggravated Robbery-1st Degree; V: Aggravated Robbery-1st Degree; VI: Dangerous Weapon – Firearm Assault-2nd Degree-Dangerous Weapon; VII: Drugs - 5th Degree - Possess Schedule 1,2,3,4 - Not Small Amount Marijuana
• Robert Daniel Anderson, Woodbury, Oak Park Heights Police Department, I: Financial Transaction Card Fraud-Use-No Consent; II: Identity Theft-Penalties-2 or 3 Direct Victims/Value to Direct and Indirect Victims $501-$2,500
• Kevin Michael Schwietz, Mahtomedi, Washington County Sheriff's Office, I: Drugs - 5th Degree - Possess Schedule 1,2,3,4 - Not Small Amount Marijuana
• Jacob John Gerlach, Forest Lake, Forest Lake Police Department, I: Assault-4th Deg-Peace Officer-Demonstrable bodily harm or throws/transfers bodily fluids or feces-F
• Vallantine Ebot Atem, Cottage Grove, Cottage Grove Police Department, I: Terroristic Threats-Reckless Disregard Risk; II: Domestic Assault - By Strangulation
• Scott Donald Peters, Cottage Grove, Washington County Sheriff's Office, I: Violate No Contact Order - Within 10 years of the first of two or more convictions
• Kevin Michael Schwietz, Mahtomedi, Washington County Sheriff's Office, I: Burglary-2nd Degree-Dwelling
• Ernest Xavier Breland, Shoreview, Woodbury Police Department, I: Aiding and Abetting Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent
• Tarrance Daronze Hardie, St. Paul, Woodbury Police Department, Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent
• Travon Thomas Ferrara, Woodbury, Woodbury Police Department, I: Aiding and Abetting Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent
• Christopher Thomas Wall, Elk River, Woodbury Police Department, I: Receiving Stolen Property
• Christopher Alan Siemers, Elk River, Woodbury Police Department, I: Receiving Stolen Property; II: Receiving Stolen Property; III: Receiving Stolen Property; IV: Theft-Take/Drive Motor Vehicle-No Owner Consent