Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Take heed, would be criminals in Forest Lake. Don't mess with Matrix.

A Forest Lake man learned the lesson the hard way early Monday morning when he fled police after they were called to Players and Upperdeck to investigate a report of theft of liquor.

The man, Patrick M. Driscoll, 22, of 1167 North Shore Drive, fled on foot when confronted by police. Driscoll did not make it two blocks north before Matrix apprehended him.

Police were called to the bar at 1:08 p.m. after bar management reported a possible theft of liquor. Driscoll, an off-duty bar employee, was questioned about his possible involvement.

When he ran from officers, the Forest Lake K-9 cop was waiting outside in his squad. He was released and made a quick stop. The dog held the man until officers arrived and made the arrest.

Driscoll was held on a felony warrant from Anoka County for criminal sexual contact. Formal charges are also pending for fleeing a police officer, theft and criminal damage to property.

The bar office was damaged in the burglary. The eight bottles of liquor were found in a car in the Upperdeck parking lot.

Other crimes

In other crimes and police incidents, officers here are:

ïInvestigating thefts from 12 storage units at McCullough Mini Storage, 29325 Forest Blvd. N. that happened over the weekend. Locks to the 12 units were cut and video security system was dismantled, police said. In one of the thefts, items with value in excess of $5000 were stolen.

ïInvestigating a forced-entry burglary at the Big Dollar Store, 840 S. Lake St. reported on Monday. A store security camera system was stolen. Police have yet to receive an inventory report of stolen items.

ïAssisted Forest Lake Fire & Rescue with a garbage truck fire at 5:37 a.m. Monday. A Forest Lake Sanitation truck was picking up garbage at Sinclair, 308 S. Lake St., when it brushed a power pole and ignited its load. The truck drove directly to the Forest Lake Fire Station on SW 4th St. where it dumped its load in the parking lot and awaited the arrival of firefighters who put out the blaze before more harm could be done.

Top of Page

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