Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Formal charges are expected against at least one man in connection with an early-morning shooting incident at North Shore Apartments here on March 2.

Police in Forest Lake said a White Bear Lake man has been booked in the Washington County Jail in Stillwater for probable cause of first-degree burglary. The Washington County Attorneyís Office will be handed full reports from the city police department for consideration of additional charges, Chief of Police Clark Quiring said on Tuesday.

Taken to jail was Nicholas A. Dereschak, 19, of 3920 Hoffman Road, White Bear Lake. Police here say he was one of seven men who went to the apartment of Paul John Rohde, 21, 1167 North Shore Drive, with the intent of collecting a debt.

The seven individuals allegedly pried open the exterior security door to the apartment building and then kicked open Rohdeís door. Rohde fired one blast from a 12 gauge shotgun at the intruders, striking Cody Joseph Mezzenga, 19, of 7927 Joseph Ct., Lino Lakes, in the back of his left calf muscle.

Mezzenga remains hospitalized with his leg wounds, Quiring said.

Quiring said officers have concluded that seven men are believed to have gone to the apartment shortly before 2 a.m. on March 2. The investigation has determined that Rohde allegedly owed one of the men $250, but not money related to the purchase of a motorcycle as first thought, Quiring said.

Two additional subjects who went to Rohdeís apartment will be subject to possible charges, Quiring said.

The investigation of Rohdeís use of a firearm in the incident will also be handed off to the county attorney for review and a decision on criminal charges, the chief said.

Matrix does the job

Matrix, the Forest Lake Police Department K-9 officer, was put to good use last Thursday evening in locating an intoxicated female who fled officers who were attempting to transfer the youth to the custody of her parents.

The K-9 team was called to the parking lot at Perkins, 1155 W. Broadway at 8:05 p.m. on March 9 at the request of a Washington County deputy. The deputy was holding two intoxicated females when one fled from her parentís car and ran to the swampy area north of Perkins.

Matrix found the youth after a 45 minute search. The wet and cold youth surrendered without incident.

ìShe got cold and wet,î Quiring said. ìThat would have been a long night for her.î

Without the help of a dog, officers would have faced a time-consuming foot search requiring a large number of officers and volunteers. ìObviously she was not making good choices,î the chief said.

House burglary

Police here are also investigating a burglary of an occupied house at 2:51 a.m. Sunday in the 5000 block of N. 200th St. Quiring said the homeowner was awakened by a noise and found a man in the laundry room. The man fled through the garage.

Police tracked the suspect to N. 202nd St. where the trail was lost on the pavement. Nothing was reported missing in the nighttime home invasion, the police chief said.

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