Were alleged RF burglars pursuing a drug intervention?

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Two men in their mid-40s were taken into custody in connection with an apartment break-in Saturday night, April 21, in the 500 block of South Wasson Lane. One man, who was also arrested outside the apartment building for drunk driving, claimed the pair broke into the second-floor apartment to do a welfare check and a possible drug intervention on the male tenant’s behalf. They had suspicions that he was using meth.

The tenant, who is also the brother of one of the burglary suspects, was not in the apartment at the time.

The men allegedly hatched their plot to find the brother and do something while drinking beer during the night at a local restaurant. They even borrowed a ladder from the restaurant owner so they could reach the apartment’s second-floor window.

That window was broken so one of the men could slip inside and let the other one in through the front door. Inside the apartment, River Falls police say a lamp was overturned and busted and a set of six keys for the apartment complex was stolen.

The burglary suspect whose brother is the tenant/alleged victim fled from local officers but was picked up later by UW-River Falls police. He had a warrant and was taken to county jail in Hudson.

The Pierce County district attorney will consider charges ranging from criminal trespassing and property damage to obstruction and burglary.

Police also:

--Arrested an 18-year-old UW-River Falls female student for drug paraphernalia, marijuana and narcotic drug possession while sitting in her car with four other passengers after midnight Saturday in the 200 block of South Third Street. An officer on foot patrol said he saw the woman lighting and smoking a pipe that was being passed around in the car. She later took responsibility for all drug-related items alleged found inside: Glass pipe, large bong, baggy with marijuana, wood grinder and some un-prescribed Adderall (amphetamine) pills that were cut in half. The arrested student was booked at the police station and given a courtesy ride back to her dorm at Parker Hall. The passengers were all released. This case also goes to the district attorney.

--Are still investigating a substantial battery to a 19-year-old local woman by another woman on the night of April 14 at 234 ½ S. Third Street. During a party an argument broke out about $105 in cash that was missing from a purse. The alleged victim was accused of the theft and was slugged in the head. She suffered a bloody cut above one eye that required stitches. The assailant has yet to be cited or charged.

For more, please read Police Beat in the April 25 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: river falls, news, crime, courts