As the World Turns: Hit-and-run driver claims to wake to a crash; playacting poke bloodies boyfriend; disorderly man declares he'll ruin cops' careers, then cries for mom

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If you want a job that has variety, the unexpected, even the bizarre, apply to be a River Falls police officer. Sunday morning, Feb. 10, an officer brought in and later arrested a 24-year-old Fairmont, Minn., man for hit-and-run, reckless driving endangering safety, drug paraphernalia possession and driving without a valid license. The suspect allegedly tailgated, bumped and then crashed into another driver in the area of West Division and Winter streets.

Questioned later, the Minnesota man said he drove to River Falls to visit a friend, but got in after 2 a.m., didn't want to disturb that friend and so slept through the night in his car. Next thing he remembered was crashing into a pickup truck. He freaked out, thinking the two vehicles were attached and sped away.

Police say they found drug paraphernalia in plain sight inside the man's badly damaged 1993 Ford Escort.

The man said he wasn't mentally ill, wasn't on prescription drugs and didn't use anything stronger to smoke than pot -- and the last time he'd done that was four days before.

The man was described as alert but confused by his situation.

He was given four citations totaling almost $900. He was then released from the police station as he set out on foot to reach his friend's place.

River Falls Police also:

--Arrested a 34-year-old local woman for domestic battery late Sunday night, Feb. 10, in the apartment building at 1473 Riverside Drive. The alleged victim, her boyfriend, had called 911. He was found with a swollen face and bloody mouth. His girlfriend was yelling at him to put out his cigarette.

The man said the two had been arguing about sex. He claimed she started and kept hitting him in the face until he ran out into the hallway to phone for help.

The woman, who had red, bloody knuckles, said the man's facial injuries were self-inflicted. Later she recanted and said they were doing some kind of playacting and the back-and-forth blows got out of control. She said she, too, was hurt.

The woman was taken to county jail in Hudson.

The man got a 72-hour no-contact order against the woman, but then wouldn't cooperate with police or fill out a written statement about the incident.

--Arrested a 20-year-old Rogers, Minn., man for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, underage drinking and an I.D. violation at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Boomer's Bar, 106 N. Main St. The man had apparently gotten inside and was drinking after using a fake I.D. showing a different name and a legal drinking age.

He wouldn't leave the bar at closing time and scuffled with bar employees who held him until officers arrived.

Police say the man went on a verbal tirade, screaming and kicking, and refusing to be handcuffed until stunned into submission by a Taser gun.

Because of bloody cuts to his arm from broken glass, an ambulance was called. During the wait, the man allegedly swore continuously at officers, threatening to kill them, then to ruin their careers because he came from a wealthy, powerful family. Some of his remarks were recorded.

The man then yelled at the EMTs and tried to refuse medical attention. Then he began crying and said he wanted to call his mother.

At the hospital the man was physically restrained in bed while yelling at medical staff as they treated his wounds.

There was more physical trouble transporting the man to county jail in Ellsworth and trying to book him into a jail cell.

The man was given two municipal citations and faces criminal charges from the district attorney.

For more, please see Police Beat in the Feb. 14 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: news, crime, courts, accidents