Posted: 12/11/02

Gas tank explosion injures FL man

A Forest Lake man was injured when the gas tank he was installing in the bed of his pick-up truck exploded Saturday afternoon.

Forest Lake Police said Patrick F. Munion, 33, of 20001 Ingersoll Ave. N. and a friend were welding a 100-gallon gasoline tank to the bed of Munionís truck parked in the attached garage when it exploded at 5:30 p.m. The explosion tossed Munion to the rafters of the garage, police said.

He was taken to Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center with serious facial injuries, police said. The friend, who was using the blow torch, was not hurt, police said.

Forest Lake Fire & Rescue was called to put out the garage fire which started as a result of the explosion.

2 drug arrests

Police in Forest Lake arrested two people in separate drug incidents.

Jamie C. Contrers, 45, St. Paul, was held on a Dakota County warrant and probable cause possession of drug paraphernalia. He was stopped by Forest Lake police at 2:07 p.m. on TH-97 just west of US-61 as part of a shoplifting investigation reported by a local store.

On Dec. 6 at 2:15 a.m., police arrested Dawn M. Egan, 32, of Stacy, on probable cause of fifth degree possession of a controlled substance after police stopped a car at Moto Mart, 1898 S. Lake St.

She was taken into custody on an outstanding felony warrant and also held for what police believe is possession of methamphetamine.

Three other occupants of the vehicle were released.

Safe & Sober report

Chief of Police David Schwartz said this week the fall Safe & Sober mobilization that targeted seat belt use resulted in 10 seat belt and child safety seat citations.

During the extra patrol, the chief said 28 vehicles were stopped and six citations for other than seat belt violations were issues. Twenty-five warnings were given.

Schwartz said the mobilization determined Forest Lake current seat belt use rate is set at 74 percent. The state average is 80.1 percent.

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