Cliff Buchan
News Editor

An underage drinking party in Forest Lake has netted 26 tickets for underage consumption of alcohol, Chief of Police Clark Quiring said this week.

An anonymous call from the public sent Forest Lake police to a home in the 23000 block of Hayward Ave. N. at 1:25 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.

At the home police found a large number of youth and a 25-gallon keg of beer, the chief said.

Quiring said officers have issued 26 tickets for underage consumption. One juvenile male was issued a ticket for disorderly conduct in addition to the underage drinking charge, the chief said.

Quiring said Forest Lake High School will be provided a list of the students involved in the incident.

Police also are continuing the investigation into where the keg was purchased and additional charges may be filed, Quiring said.

Forgery charges

Officers in Forest Lake last month assisted police from Chaska in executing a search warrant at 21183 Everton Ave. N. At the home, police searched a vehicle and found mail that was allegedly stolen from mail boxes throughout the metro area, including addresses in Hugo, Scandia and Columbus Township, police here said.

Police said Stephen Jon Barthold, 41, of Forest Lake, was arrested on charges related to his alleged forgery of stolen checks, police said.

Chaska police made the initial arrest in connection to an incident where a stolen check was used to purchase a snowmobile in that city. Barthold is also under investigation in Chisago County where a stolen check was used to purchase a snowmobile.

Forest Lake police said the theft of mail and credit card bills has been a new source of identity theft and forgery crimes this winter. In some cases, credit card companies are mailing blank checks to their customers.

Customers of credit card companies can notify their bank to discontinue mailing blank checks with card statements, police said.

In other news, police here are:

ïInvestigating the theft of miscellaneous tools and an air compressor with value of $3000 to $4000 from the construction site of the Roberts Eckert Funeral Home, 555 SW Centennial Drive. Legendary Builders, Forest Lake, reported the theft on Monday.

ïInvestigating a report of vandalism from 956 Place, 956 SW 12th St. on Sunday where a third-floor laundry room sink was plugged and the water turned on. The water overflow resulted in $7000 in damage to apartment units on the second and first floor of the building.

ïInvestigating three new reports of vandalism to vehicles throughout the city where car windows were damaged by a pellet gun or B-B gun.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605