Residents capture burglary suspects

Three Lake City, Minn., residents who noticed “suspicious individuals” at a vacant residence Feb. 17 in Chester Township, called the police and surrounded two of the unknown visitors in their car until authorities could arrive, according to a Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office report.

As a deputy questioned the suspects, a third person came walking out of a wooded area near the vacant residence.

At least two had been trespassing on the property, the sheriff’s report states. Burglary tools were found in the vehicle.

The deputy arrested Gregory Victor Ahlers, 42, of Lake City and Michael Paul Dumais, 30, of Rochester, Minn. Both will likely be charged with third-degree burglary.

Later that evening, the Lake City Police received information of suspicious activity at Ahlers’ residence.

After an initial investigation, Lake City officers obtained a warrant and conducted a search. Many items that were related to recent rural burglaries within the county were found and seized in Ahlers’ home, according to police reports.

One of the citizens who surrounded the car had a legal gun permit and was armed with a pistol. However, the Wabasha Sheriff’s Office said the man never took the pistol out.

“This was an incredible thing that these citizens did. They really put themselves in a difficult situation because they felt it was the right thing to do,” Sheriff Rodney Bartsh said.

“It made the case for us and put two people in jail, where they belong. We definitely hope this helps reduce some of our rural burglaries. Also, it would not have been all pieced together, without the help of the Lake City Police Department,” he added.

They really put themselves in a difficult situation because they felt it was the right thing to do,

Yes, but...

One of the citizens who surrounded the car had a legal gun permit and was armed with a pistol. However, the Wabasha Sheriff’s Office said the man never took the pistol out.

It's a lot easier to act when you see something that needs to be done - even if it's just helping someone stranded on the side of the road - when you know you're not defenseless if things turn ugly.

Truth is, most of the time you won't need the gun. As in this case.

One of the citizens who surrounded the car had a legal gun permit and was armed with a pistol. However, the Wabasha Sheriff’s Office said the man never took the pistol out.

So, I wonder how they obtained this info.? Did they "arrest" him/her too? Much more to this story than in the article.

2 posted on 02/24/2008 11:05:27 AM PST by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagon)

“Later that evening, the Lake City Police received information of suspicious activity at Ahlers’ residence.”

Received info? This was just a good old fashioned “follow up”.
It’s what real law enforcement should do. Nice work LCPD.

3 posted on 02/24/2008 4:55:42 PM PST by Fireone (We need the 2nd Amendment to ensure the others. Bobby Jindal for VP in '08.)

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