Roaming, intruding dog equals dead duck in River Falls

River Falls police were called to a house Saturday morning in the 200 block of South Third Street to investigate a dead pet duck. A woman there said a stray, large husky-type dog slipped through a back yard fence and killed one of her ducks.

The suspect dog wore a black halter and weighed 40-50 pounds. It was last seen heading toward the post office.

A few hours later the woman called police back to say the husky had returned, then slipped away, without killing more ducks, and was heading north on Third Street.

Police were also occupied dealing with an array of human perpetrators:

--They arrested a 22-year-old man for substantial battery in front of Shooter’s Pub, 107 E. Elm St., after a 33-year-old local woman was knocked to the sidewalk and briefly knocked out. The alleged victim apparently had struck her head on the pavement. The problems started at another local bar where the woman allegedly pretended to take the man’s billfold.

The woman was taken to River Falls Area Hospital and was described as having some bleeding on the brain. She was then moved to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

The male suspect wasn’t found for two hours. He was spotted between two parked vehicles in the 100 block of East Spring Street. He had cuts and bruises, and his face and clothes were muddy.

Asked what happened, the man’s only response was that he’d fallen. He was taken to the hospital, then to county jail. Charges for the allegedly battery to the woman are pending with the district attorney.

--Arrested a 22-year-old man at Ground Zero bar, 121 S. Main St., Sunday just after midnight for battery. When officers arrived the suspect was on the floor under the weight of a bouncer who was lying on top to hold him down. The suspect, witnesses say, had wondered around the bar looking to pick a fight. He finally was said to have slugged another male patron, without provocation, who was standing next to the pool table.

--Arrested a 25-year-old man for trespassing by Junior’s Bar inside the downtown Riverview Hotel last week Wednesday night. Staff there had complained that the suspect had been camping out under a stairwell, off and on, for months. Rolled-up fabric and cardboard were apparently used to make these sleepovers comfortable. Popcorn was also found scattered on the floor. The suspect was arrested as he came down the stairs. He denied living under the stairwell, but as he made his denial he was eating popcorn.

--Arrested a 17-year-old local boy for theft, property damage, alteration of property identification, receiving stolen property, drug paraphernalia possession and more over the weekend. The boy was allegedly stealing bicycles and bike parts around town and operating a chop shop out of his apartment home on South Wasson Lane.

The boy allegedly said he stole bikes parked in alleys and next to buildings. However, he also said he scrounged for parts in dumpsters and from the Crank Worx bike shop downtown where he had worked.

Officers claim they found bikes in the boy’s apartment that were spraypainted and had serial numbers shaved off. They also claim they recovered a bunch of knives and drug pipes.

The case goes to the district attorney.

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