A (501) C Non-Profit Organization
Tri-County
Crime Stoppers
of Minnesota, Inc.
Serving Central Minnesota
P.O. Box 545 St. Cloud, MN 56302-0545
St. Cloud Area and Cellular 2000 customers: 255-1301
Outside St. Cloud: 1-800-255-1301
About Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers Open Cases
for Week of March 7, 2005
Sherburne County Sheriff: Check Theft and Forgery
The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department has received numerous complaints
of check theft and forgery. Investigators have also had discussions with
law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties who are reporting similar
activity.
According to Sheriff Bruce Anderson, the complaints are primarily for
passing of forged checks at area businesses. Typically, the checks are
stolen and then false identification is used to pass the checks at area
merchants or information from the checks is used to print new checks.
According to Sheriff Bruce Anderson, much of the illegal activity is being
tracked back to theft of checks from mailboxes.
“I am encouraging area residents to be especially aware of how they handle
checks. Checks should be treated just like cash. If you are going to mail
checks please do so at the post office or in one of the blue collection
boxes,” Sheriff Anderson said.
In at least three cases, the criminal activity involves first the theft of
the check. The routing number and bank account number are then taken from
the bottom of the check and used to order additional blank checks. In some
cases, thieves are using the information to print their own checks at
home.
“The advances in desktop publishing are such that the average home
computer and printer are sufficient to create checks that look
legitimate,” said Sheriff Anderson.
Residents are asked to watch for suspicious activity near mailboxes.
Anyone with information regarding check fraud or suspicious activity
regarding mail tampering is asked to contact Tri-County Crime Stoppers at
800-255-1301 or the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department at 800-433-5245.
St. Cloud Police: Theft by Swindle (Request for
Assistance from Public)
On 02/25/05 at approximately 0030 hours, officers of the St. Cloud Police
Department were investigating a gun complaint in the 300 block of 20th
Avenue North. During this time, officers made contact with the occupants
of two separate vehicles at this location. The investigation of the
occupants and of the two vehicles revealed that one of the vehicles had
been purchased fraudulently. It was determined that the vehicle was
connected to a separate Investigation that officers of the St. Cloud
Police Department were conducting (Theft by Check Investigation). This
vehicle was ultimately impounded. Officers learned that an individual
named Christopher Debates was fraudulently purchasing motor vehicles from
several dealerships and private citizens by using his checking account
that was listed as a "Closed Account" with the bank. It was also learned
that Debates would subsequently sell or give the vehicles away to known
acquaintances in exchange for money or drugs. On some occasions, Debates
would drive the vehicles himself.
During this investigation, officers located Debates at a different
location and found him to be In possession of a second vehicle that was
determined to have been fraudulently obtained as well. This vehicle was
also impounded. Debates was subsequently apprehended on multiple counts of
Theft by Swindle/Check (Felony). As officers questioned Debate" he
admitted to fraudulently obtaining approximately 10 vehicles (in this
fashion) by issuing a check through his own account which he knew was
closed. The vehicles were purchased throughout various counties in Central
Minnesota area over past several weeks. At the present time, officers have
located and/or impounded 11 vehicles. A 12th vehicle has been Identified
but not located at the present time. This vehicle is described as a 1993
Ford Taurus, gray or blue In color, possibly bearing MN license number
DHL-290.
Christopher James Debates, 24 years of age, 414 ½ 4th Street NE, Little
Falls, MN was arrested and transported to the Stearns Co Jail. Debates has
since been charged and released on bond.
It has been learned through this Investigation that Christopher Debates
could not recall specifics on all of the fraudulent transactions/crimes he
committed. Officers are trying to determine if there are any other victims
out there that have not been identified and were swindled by Debates when
he purchased a vehicle from them. Anyone with information is encouraged to
call the St. Cloud Police Department at (320) 251-1200 or Crime Stoppers
at (320) 255-1301.
REWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
Tri-County Crime Stoppers, Inc. is pleased to
announce that a reward has been paid in a case that was featured early in
2005 on the radio programs and our web site. With this payment, our total
for rewards paid-to-date is $ 31,490.00.
Other open cases can be seen at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org . Callers
to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and can become eligible for a reward of
up to $1,000. In some selected cases, the reward can be up to $ 5,000. The
phone line does not have Caller ID or any type of recording device. Our
toll free number is 1-800-255-1301. For the St. Cloud dialing area and
Cellular 2000 customers, they should call 255-1301.
Elk River Police: Hit and Run Driver
The Elk River Police Department is seeking the
public's assistance in solving a hit-and-run accident that occurred on
Feb. 25 at approximately 7:25 p.m. The accident occurred on County Road 12
near Walmart and involved a pedestrian being struck by a car. The vehicle
is described as having the following characteristics: light colored
(possibly white), older model (late '80's to early '90's), same taillights
as a Mercury Cougar, Ford Thunderbird and Pontiac Bonneville, with lights
illuminated across trunk.
The vehicle was traveling east on County Road 12 at the time of the
accident and, because of driving conduct, the driver may not have been
aware of striking the pedestrian. The impact occurred on the passenger
side of the vehicle on the right front fender or bumper.
St. Cloud Police: 1st Degree Burglary of a Residence
On 03/07/05 at 1213 hours officers were
dispatched to a burglary in progress on the 1200 block of 13th Street
North. One male was seen leaving the residence wearing a blue hooded
sweatshirt, approximately 5'8, with a stocky build.
The area was checked and officers were unable to locate the suspect. The
suspect gained entrance into the residence through the garage service door
and fled on foot when he realized the residents were home. No items were
taken from the residence.
St. Cloud Police: Criminal Sexual Assault
and Robbery (Suspect Sketch) (from week of February
14, 2005)
On 02/13/05 at approximately 0118 hours officers from the St. Cloud Police
Department were dispatched to Beaudreau's Bar located at 414 East St.
Germain St., on a sexual assault that had just occurred.
Investigation revealed that a male bad forced his way into a limousine
where he made the 43 year old female driver drive to a location in Benton
County and sexually assaulted her. The suspect displayed a knife and
threatened to use it on the victim during the course of the sexual
assault. Also taken from the limousine driver was an undetermined amount
of cash proceeds from previous patrons of the using the limousine service.
After being assaulted, the suspect then forced the female to drive him
around and he was ultimately dropped off in the area of 5th Avenue and 3rd
Street Northeast, St, Cloud.
The suspect is described as a Black male, 25-30 years of age, 6-0, heavy
set, wearing gray warm-up suit, and tennis shoes.
The victim was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital where she received
medical attention.
2-17-05 Additional Information: The suspect in this matter was observed to
have a bruise on his forehead that would have been noticeable, especially
on 02/13/2005.
Pending Reward
Tri-County Crime Stoppers has approved a reward on a case from early in
2004. The tip, which resulted in this case being solved, was called into
Crime Stoppers in October 2004. The caller was issued a case number. We
are now waiting for that person to call back with their case number and
make arrangements to accept their reward payment.
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