29-Dec-2025

Arson

A 32-year-old Roseau man is facing a first-degree arson charge after allegedly setting his trailer home on fire on Christmas Day, according to court documents filed Friday. Justin  Frasier was arrested and charged with first-degree arson after admitting to intentionally starting the fire at 214 Westside Trailer Court, according to a criminal complaint filed in Roseau County District Court. Police and fire crews responded to the structure fire around 11:23 a.m. on Christmas. The residence was completely engulfed in flames with thick black smoke in the air when first responders arrived. According to the complaint, Frasier admitted to starting two fires inside the home — one in the bathroom under the sink using a garbage bag full of paper, and another in the back bedroom using computer paper. When asked why he set the fires, Frasier told police he was “down in the dumps, hungry, did not have any food, and his food stamps had run out,” according to the complaint. Court documents also indicate Frasier was in the process of being evicted for non-payment.

29-Dec-2025

Snowmobile Crash

A man was airlifted to a hospital after being found injured following a snowmobile crash on an Iron Range lake early on Christmas Eve. The Virginia Police Department says it received a report of "unknown trouble" at 2:18 a.m. near Bailey's Lake. A caller reported seeing a bright light and could hear what they thought was a running generator. When officers arrived, they found a 41-year-old man lying 20 feet away from a running snowmobile, which was located around 75 yards off the shoreline west of the Laurentian Manor Apartments. Police say the man was "slow to respond" as officers rendered aid. He was taken first by ambulance to Essentia Health Hospital in Virginia, before being airlifted to Essentia Health-Saint Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. The crash is the subject of an ongoing investigation. There is no further update on the man's condition as of Saturday morning.

29-Dec-2025

Treasure City Burglary

Police are asking for your help locating a suspect in a burglary at Treasure City in Royalton last week. Royalton Police say a suspect, dressed in all black, kicked in the door of Treasure City about 1:00 am Thursday, December 18th. About ten minutes later, witnesses reported a person matching that description running into the alley between North Aspen and North Birch Streets. Royalton police used a K-9 unit to track the suspect, but snowfall and high winds made the search unsuccessful. Officials claim money and several knives were stolen. Anyone who witnessed anything unusual or has home video footage of the area about that time is asked to call the Royalton Police Department.

 

 

 

 

 

29-Dec-2025

Two Vehicle Crash

A Melrose couple was hurt in a crash on Christmas Day near St. Rosa. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says they received multiple calls about a two-vehicle crash around 5:00 p.m. on County Road 17, about a quarter mile north of St. Rosa. Deputies arrived at the scene and found two severely damaged vehicles. The Sheriff's Office says 54-year-old David Riegel of Jordan was going south in his SUV when he began to fishtail on the icy road. 57-year-old Joseph Engelmeyer of Melrose was traveling north on the road in his SUV and tried to go into the ditch to avoid Riegel. The two vehicles crashed, causing Engelmeyer to spin around and land on the driver's side in the east ditch. Engelmeyer and a passenger in his SUV, 55-year-old Kimberly Engelmeyer, were taken to the Melrose Hospital with minor injuries. A second passenger, 17-year-old Emily Engelmeyer of Melrose, was not hurt. Riegel and his passenger, 51-year-old Michelle Spies of Jordan, were not hurt.