CRIME & SAFETY

Police received a report at 3:46 p.m. Monday of a theft of about $1,300 in merchandise at Hy-Vee, 2708 Bridge Ave. The incident happened Saturday evening. Police received a report at 6:54 p.m. Monday of thefts from four different dates over the last two weeks totaling $341 at Walmart, 1550 Blake Ave.   Juveniles cited […] The post Shoplifting and other reports appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

Two people were injured Sunday afternoon after an ATV crash south of Albert Lea. Deputies received a report at 3:22 p.m. of two people who had been injured in the crash at 16604 750th Ave. and were being taken by private vehicle to the emergency room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. The […] The post 2 injured in ATV crash south of Albert Lea appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

PRESTON, Minn. – A Freeborn County man takes a plea deal over drugs and a gun in Fillmore County. Oziel Valdez, 50 of Albert Lea, was arrested on May 6 after a traffic stop in Fillmore County. The arresting officer said the vehicle had an expired registration. After Valdez...

An Albert Lea man facing a felony burglary charge, plus a gross misdemeanor violation of a domestic abuse, no-contact order charge in Mower County District Court after an incident that took place in Austin on July 20th, 2023 has been sentenced to supervised probation and time in the sentence to service program.

An Austin man with three active cases involving drug possession, use and sales has been charged in a fourth case. Casey Steven Bell, 25, was in Mower County District Court on Monday where he was charged with seven total counts including two felony third-degree drug possession charges and felony fifth-degree drug possession. He was also […] The post Austin man with three active drug cases charged in a fourth appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

  Police arrested Travis Jeffery Abrego, 49, for domestic assault and dangerous weapon at 4:26 p.m. Sunday at 504 James Ave.   Theft reported Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a report at 8:18 a.m. Friday of wheels that were stolen off a semi at 84077 330th St. in Ellendale.   1 arrested for domestic […] The post Man arrested for domestic assault, dangerous weapon and other reports appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

GARNER, Iowa – A man accused of killing his estranged wife is now scheduled to stand trial in January. Roger Laverne Crews Jr., 56 of Lake Mills, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Karen Abby Crews, 56 of Woden. Law enforcement says the body...

This week in Albert Lea, Minnesota, there were several incidents reported. The first incident involved a shooting at a rural home, resulting in no arrests or injuries. The second incident occurred at Jake's Pizza, where a fire caused damage to the pizza oven's exhaust fan and ductwork. In the third incident, an Albert Lea woman pleaded guilty to third-degree murder as an accomplice after the fact in the overdose death of her sister. The fourth incident involved another Albert Lea woman receiving a prison sentence for drug crimes. Lastly, five individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a meth distribution ring between California and Minnesota.

AUSTIN, Minn. – A man accused of attempted murder for a summer shooting in Mower County has taken a plea deal. Hector Ubaldo Serrano Maldonado, 30 of Austin, was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, intentional discharge of a firearm that endangers safety, carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol, and disorderly conduct.

Police received a report of identity theft at 3:48 p.m. Wednesday on West Ninth Street.    2 arrested for domestic assault Police arrested Kimberly Michelle Bunker, 53, for domestic assault at 5:28 p.m. Wednesday at 204 E. Front St.  Police arrested Oziel Valdez Jr., 50, for domestic assault-fear at 6:52 p.m. Tuesday at 2105 Stevens […] The post Identity theft and other reports appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

Allegations of misconduct from a former Albert Lea High School counselor’s time at Woodbury High School will not be able to be introduced in his upcoming criminal sexual conduct trial as evidence of prior bad acts, a Freeborn County District Court judge ruled this week. Richard John Polley, 34, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual […] The post Judge: Evidence from prior school can’t be used to show ‘prior bad acts’ of former A.L. counselor appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

Discover how the Austin Zonta Club is raising awareness about domestic violence through their 16-day campaign. Learn about their symbolic use of orange lights and flags, and how you can support their cause in this enlightening video.

Sheriff’s office investigating rural home shooting. (ABC 6 News) – The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says there are no arrests or reported injuries after a shooting in Albert Lea, according to a press release. Deputies responded to a home in the 17000 block of 690 Ave. just...

— Jose Juan Alvarez-Bentzin, Jr., 25, Austin, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for felony second degree assault with a dangerous weapon, 13 months for felony commit a crime while wearing/possessing bullet resistant vest and 21 months for felony third degree drugs sale-narcotic. All sentences are to run concurrently. — Latasha Marie Beighley, 28, […] The post Convictions: Nov. 13-20 appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.

Five people, including three from Austin and one from Albert Lea, have been sentenced to prison for trafficking methamphetamine that was shipped through the mail from California to Austin, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to court documents, between the fall of 2021 and the summer of 2022, Michael Anthony Ortiz, 44, of San […] The post 5, including 1 from Albert Lea, sentenced in federal meth trafficking case appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

Preston, MN (KROC-AM News)- The defendant in a southeast Minnesota murder case has entered a plea agreement that would keep her out of prison. 50-year-old Jeanne Penhollow of Albert Lea was charged last February with third-degree murder, accomplice to third-degree murder through distributing a controlled substance, third-degree drug sales and fourth-degree drug sales. She was accused of supplying a lethal dose of narcotics to her sister, who was found dead in a detached garage at the family's home in Fillmore County on February 2, 2021.

Friday at 2:24 p.m. A report of a trailer stolen from 951 Plaza St. 8:16 p.m. 50-Year old Chad Sabanish cited for Trespassing. 10:36 p.m. 43-Year old Steven Wadding arrested for Domestic Assault. Saturday at 1:33 a.m. 19-Year old Landon Stadheim, 20-Year old Jessie Perez both cited for underage consumption.

Four fire departments responded to a large fire at 21751 620th Ave. in Alden Friday evening. According to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, the property owner had called in a burn permit for the address, and at about 3:30 p.m. the fire was smoldering and he left the property to go into Alden. He was […] The post 4 departments respond to fire near Alden and other reports appeared first on Albert Lea Tribune.

At the Nov. 13 New Richland City Council meeting, the Fire Department, Police Department, and Ambulance Services Department gave reports for the month, concerning topics like recruitment, training, and vaping in the community. With the resignation of two first responders, the ambulance services of New Richland are seeking new recruits to help with coverage. With the EMT class coming to an end, there is a possibility of three first responders joining the team if they all pass their EMT national test. But they could use...

ALBERT LEA, Minn. - Flames broke out Friday evening in an Albert Lea pizza place. Albert Lea Fire Rescue says it was called to Jake's Pizza at 126 Clark Street W for fire coming out of the oven's exhaust fan. Firefighters say they found flames coming from the fan and in the ductwork for the pizza oven inside the restaurant.