2002 Criminalistics 1st Quarter Awards

2002 FIRST QUARTER PATROL – WINNER

On Feb. 1, 2002 at 2155 hours Hennepin County Radio Division advised that an armed robbery had just occurred in Wright Courtly and that the suspect vehicle was being followed east bound on I-94 by the Minnesota State Patrol and Wright County Sheriffs Office.

Deputy Sigfrinius and Sgt. Dietzman caught up to the State Patrol and Wright County squads and assisted with the felony stop on the off ramp of the rest area on I-94 in Maple Grove. The suspect vehicle came to a stop. One male suspect surrendered and the other fled on foot into the wooded rest area. Without hesitations Deputy Sigfrinius and his K-9 partner Argus were on the track.

Deputy Sigfrinius and Sgt. Dietzman followed K-9 Argus into the rest area's information building. Deputy Sigfrinius , K9 Argus and Sgt. Dietzman cleared this building and continued with the track of the suspect out of the building and back into the wooded area.

K-9 Argus led them through the wooded area to a ten-foot fence. The suspect had climbed over the fence and went into a residential area. It should be noted that at this time the suspect that was taken into custody notified deputies on scene that the suspect who was being pursued was armed with a handgun. The fence posed a major obstacle for K-9 Argus. Deputy Sigfrinius attempted to lift his dog over the fence to no avail because of the height of the fence.

At this time they saw three teenage boys in the area and asked if they had seen anyone suspicious in the area. One of the boys stated that they had seen a suspicious person at his front door. The information was immediately broadcast to all deputies assisting. A perimeter was established. Deputy Sigfrinius requested to be transported with K9 Argus to area culprits were last seen. The team found a track and established communication with a helicopter also assisting.

The team tracked the suspect to a creek, down the center of a half frozen creek that saw the ice give away and deputy and dog get soaked in cold water the track continued across Weaver Lake Road and into another residential area. The teamed continued tracking and tracked to the front porch of a home on Shenandoah Lane. The suspect was located lying in the corner of the porch.

The suspect refused the officers directions and jumped off of the porch and was fleeing across the street. The suspect refusing to stop when K9 Argus was sent to help catch the culprit. In a few short strides K9 Argus caught the suspect and knocked him to the ground. The suspect continues to struggle and attempting to get away. Deputy Sigfrinius with back up officers took over and subdued the suspect.

The incident was over an hour in duration and covered three miles in distance. The track was under some demanding physical conditions and attests to the determination of those involved.

2002 FIRST QUARTER DETECTOR – WINNER

On Jan 7, 2002 K9 Ofc. Baumbach and K9 Thor were working the 7 AM- 7 PM shift at Kennedy Airport in New York. K9 Ofc. Baumbach and K9 Thor were requested by DEA Agents to search a van in a tri-level parking garage in the upper part of Manhattan.

A confidential informant had told the agents that there was cocaine in a red van. Upon the K9 teams arrival, the agents had located the van in the rear of the garage, between two other vans. The K9 team began the search with the first van. K9 Thor pulled K9 Ofc Baumbach to the red van and began to scratch at the rear doors.

K9 Thor went under the right side of the van and came up next to the side doors and again began to indicate on the doors. During the search the DEA Agents located the owner of the van and he gave consent to open the van. During the agent's search, the agents located several hardier suitcases with the seams covered with duct tape. The suitcases were located under a black painter's tarp. One of the cases was opened and revealed bricks of white powder wrapped in clear plastic and sealed with duct tape. The owner of the van was placed under arrest and the evidence and van were seized.

As the K9 team was leaving the garage, a second team of DEA Agents requested the K9 team to search another vehicle that had been under surveillance. The agents asked if there would be a problem with the search due to it being outside and it was snowing and about 25 degrees outside.

K9 Ofc. Advised the agents this would not be a problem. Upon the K9 teams arrival the DEA Agents were speaking to the owner of this vehicle. K9 Thor began an outer perimeter search of the van. There were guard dogs across the street barking and a crowd had begun to form.

K9 Thor indicated on the rear doors of this vehicle. The owner gave permission for the vehicle to be opened. Inside the vehicle were four hard side suitcases with the seam duct taped. These suitcases were also under a painter's tarp. One of the suitcases was opened and it contained several white powder bricks wrapped in plastic and sealed with duct tape.

The owner of the vehicle was placed under arrest and the evidence and van were taken into evidence. Again the K9 team cleared. The next day the Agent In-Charged called and informs K9 Ofc. Baumbach that the team had located 537 kilos of cocaine with a street value of 13 million dollars.