South Metro Crime Roundup: Stolen Dog Leads to Pot Growing Ring

The following stories first appeared last week on this Patch site, or those of our neighbors throughout the South Metro region. To read the full story, click on the headline. 

All those named have been arrested and/or charged. Information is provided by the community police department or attorney's office. 

Northfield

Charges Filed Against Alleged Shakopee Dog Thief With Northfield Ties

Police say Erik Andrew Johnson took the $2,500 puppy from Petland Shakopee Monday morning, and the subsequent investigation led police to Northfield.

Hunt for Stolen Puppy Leads Police to Northfield Pot Growing Operation

The puppy and the suspect were gone when police arrived at a Northfield home, according to reports.

Lakeville

Keep track of police calls in Lakeville with Patch's weekly police blotter.

Man who drove into snow bank was extremely intoxicated.

Burnsville

Burnsville Man Who Fractured Woman's Back Gets Four Months in Jail
Gerald Paul Houle, 40, is serving a 145 day sentence for an attack that left a woman bloodied, bruised and numb from the waist down.

Outhone Lee Sayachack, 24, allegedly busted into an Apple Valley house and made off with a 90-lb. safe, but left ample amounts of his own blood behind.

Two Burnsville Residents Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
McCelendon Miller, 26, and Kelly Suzette Chase, 28, were indicted in federal court after authorities seized 249 grams of cocaine from their Burnsville apartment.

Eagan

Freeborn Man Arrested During Trip Down Memory Lane in Stolen Car
Police say that Daniel John Kirsch, 47, was caught chauffeuring his high school flame around Eagan in a hot car.

West St. Paul Man Charged with First-Degree Assault on Baby
Michael Joseph Mason, 26, insists that the four-month-old was accidentally injured during playtime, though medical evidence suggests otherwise.

The man later blew a .25 on a PBT, according to the most recent Eagan police reports.

Jamie Rae Eckstrom, of Hopkins, was arrested after she allegedly attempted to steal a hotel van in Eagan.

Apple Valley/Rosemount

Rosemount Woman Faces Felony Charge After Roundabout Crash
Police say Elizabeth Dawn Nelson was drunk when she drove head on into another car, injuring herself and three others.

Rosemount Man Sentenced to 3 Days for Head-butting EMT
Alexander Michael Briner, 24, was ordered to begin his sentence for the March 2012 assault on Friday.