Posted: 3/5/03

Elusive black cat shows itself again in FL

The legacy of the large and ever elusive black cat continues to grow as there has been another sighting of what is believed to be a black panther.

At 4:55 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, Forest Lake police responded to a report of the cat in the back yard of a Forest Lake residence.

According to police records, when the officer arrived at the residence on the 19000 block of Everton Ave., the large black cat was visible approximately 100 yards southwest of the residence.

The officer was able to visually verify the animal and described it as being about the size of a small lab with a long tail.

There have been several reported sightings of a black cat ranging from as far south as Hugo and up into the city of Forest Lake for the last four years.

Sightings have been more common in the winter months, the police department said, due to the lack of cover and the animalís more difficult search for food.

Although the animal has been spotted several times, there has never been any reports of aggressive actions by the animal or potentially dangerous circumstances.

ï In other police news, poor road conditions likely played a role in a rollover accident at 7:54 a.m. on Monday near the intersection of Hwy. 8 and I-35.

A Forest Lake woman was driving the car, but suffered no major injuries.

ï A snowmobile accident on third lake on Saturday afternoon sent a Two Harbors man to the hospital.

David Johnson, 62, of Two Harbors flipped his snowmobile after hitting a snowbank at approximately 5:22 p.m.

He was transported to Fairview Medical Center, Wyoming, with minor injuries.

ï A search for a speeding motorist failed to net an arrest in the early morning hours on Saturday.

A Forest Lake officer clocked a north-bound vehicle traveling 113 mph on Hwy. 61 just south of Forest Lake at approximately 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

A short chase followed with the driver of the speeding vehicle turning the lights off on the car and pulling into Kingdom Hall before fleeing on foot.

The Forest Lake Police Department was aided by Chisago County and the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter in the search for the driver, who was not found.

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