Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Criminals can run but more often than not they can’t hide from a police dog.

Forest Lake Police Department canine officer Matrix was called into action early Saturday morning after a report of an attempted burglary.

The call came at 2:37 a.m. from a workshop, 18700 Forest Blvd. N., where a party in the building scared off someone attempting to break in, Police Chief Clark Quiring said.

Police set up a perimeter and dispatched the German shepherd. The dog followed a trail south along the Hardwood Creek Trail for just under one mile. It was at this point that Matrix apprehended a suspect.

Taken into custody was Lee Allan Christopherson, 49, of 1971 Robin Lane, Centerville. He was booked in the Washington County Jail in Stillwater on probable cause of third-degree attempted burglary and fifth-degree controlled substance crime.

The suspect was treated at Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming for bite wounds to his left shoulder before going to jail.

Quiring said the investigation remains open and two other individuals may be involved. It is believed stereo equipment inside the workshop was the target of the burglary, the chief said.

Quiring said a hinge pin that had been pried from the door to the workshop was found in the suspect’s pocket.

A pickup truck believed used by the suspect was found nearby on Forest Road N. and impounded,” said the chief.

Storm reports

Quiring also reported that the department stayed busy with two rounds of storms that pushed through the area.

Police logged about a dozen reports on Saturday after areas of the city were hit around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Numerous trees and limbs went down and a number of streets were blocked.

Power was also out for the better part of two days.

On Monday night, police responded to several more calls after thunderstorms moved through.

Three reports of downed trees were made, the chief said.

Other reports

In other police department news, Quiring reported that his department sent three officers for shifts to the I-35W Bridge detail on Aug. 3 and 4 to help at the command post at the bridge and to provide security for relatives of victims who were staying at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Quiring said initial plans called for local officers to assist the Minnesota State Patrol with traffic details. That changed, however, because city police are yet to switch to the 800 megahertz radio channels and could not communicate with other police agencies working the Minneapolis disaster scene.

Police are also investigating two check frauds reports from Target, 356 SW 12th St. and Wal-Mart, 200 SW 12th St. Quiring said two checks with value of $1200 written on a bank account in Rochester were cashed in the two stores. The incident took place on Aug. 7.

Police have also charged a 16-year-old Wyoming youth in juvenile court with employee theft from incidents at Target, 356 SW 12th St.

Police said the youth is accused of taking $978.35 in merchandise and gift certificates from the store where she worked.

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