Cliff Buchan
News Editor

More and more Matrix is proving his worth to Forest Lake police.

The K-9 officer was called out three times during the past week to assist his human partners in the arrest of three suspects. The dog was kept on lead for two of the arrests but on the third was deployed to help take down a man who would not submit to police.

The latter case came at 11:51 p.m. when police were called to a report of a domestic at 143 N. Lake St. where a woman was observed being dragged across US-61 against her will.

Police chased the man on foot to the municipal park area where he refused arrest, Police Chief Clark Quiring said. After a physical confrontation with a city officer, Matrix was deployed and inflicted bit wounds to the manís arm and leg.

When the subject still refused to submit, he was hit with three shots from a taser gun and arrested.

Police took Hank William Senger, 30, of 308 NW 4th St., to jail on probable cause gross misdemeanor of obstructing legal process with force and domestic assault.

The 23-year-old female in the case complained to police of a sore wrist, Quiring said.

In the other two cases involving Matrix, the dog found suspects who were hiding from officers.

Matrix was used to assist in the arrest of a Scandia man on July 21 who was wanted in connection with the investigation of a criminal sexual conduct report made to police several days earlier.

Matrix was called to 544 SE 12th Ave. in the search for Devon Lee Vandershaegen, 19, who was found hiding beneath a pile of clothes in a closet. He was arrested and taken to the county jail.

ìMatrix started pulling the clothes off him,î the chief said. ìHe gave up.î

The dog was also called to the Lakeside Park area at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday after police observed two men running from the parking lot area of the Upperdeck Grill & Bar, 55 S. Lake St.

One man slipped away to the south, but police and Matrix followed the second to the shoreline of the lake where he was arrested without incident.

Lawrence G. Mendez Jr., 34, of North Branch, was arrested on a Chisago County warrant for driving after revocation.

Guilty plea set

A former Forest Lake man on Monday entered a guilty plea in Washington County District Court for first-degree arson in a case that goes back to July of 2005.

Daniel Southerling, 48, now of North Branch, was arrested on July 7 of last year after a six-hour standoff at his home at 1214 Island Drive. Police were called to the Island Estates home after a TV station reported a possible hostage situation at the home.

Southerling was apprehended after the backside roof to the structure was set on fire. He was jailed on the arson charge and for making terroristic threats, Quiring said.

The plea agreement was reached Monday as the case was about to go to trial in Stillwater, the chief said.

Motorcyclist dies

A motorcycle crash early Sunday morning in Chisago City claimed the life of a Wyoming Township man.

Chisago County authorities and Chisago City fire personnel were called to Pioneer Road where a motorcycle had left the road, killing its rider.

According to the Lakes Area Police Department, Samuel James Heit, 28, of 25444 Iris Ave., Wyoming Township, died at 1:40 a.m. when his cycle left the road and struck a street sign.

The crash took place on the first sharp curve on Pioneer Road north of US-8.

Heit died on his birthday.

The accident remains under investigation by the LAPD and the Minnesota State Patrol. The crash happened a short distance from Heitís home on Iris Avenue.

Obey water rules

As director of public safety, Quiring asked city residents to follow the current water use restrictions that are in place. Lawn watering is allowed during limited periods on odd-even days that correspond to the street address.

Police are making stops at homes where violations are observed. In one stop on Everton Avenue last week, a ticket was issued for violation of city ordinance 469.

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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