Quick turnaround of suspect information in a Richfield robbery led to an arrest in Eden Prairie on March 12. The same day that a robbery occurred at a Bremer Bank in Richfield, Eden Prairie police were able to arrest the suspect, Reginald Dewayne Jackson, 31, of Eden Prairie.

Jackson has been charged with aggravated robbery in the first degree.

According to the Eden Prairie Police, there has been a spree of vehicle break-ins in the past week. A total of 37 vehicle break-ins occurred over the course of three days early during the week of March 8.

Cars parked in lots near apartment complexes and hotels were targeted. Thieves were looking to steal electronics such as GPS devices, laptops and stereo systems.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Law Enforcement Academy is an 11-week, hands-on academy. Observe and learn about DWI enforcement, narcotics, patrol and K-9 operations, tour the Crime Lab and jail, crime prevention training, and use of force/defensive tactics. Students may participate in a live shoot at an indoor range, according to a news release.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and will be screened for criminal backgrounds. There is no charge to participate.

Ronald Rudolph Ernst, the Level 3 sex offender who moved into Chanhassen on Monday, has moved away from the city and the state, according to Carver County Sherrif's Lt. Jim Olson.

Just as Ernst registered at the Carver County Courthouse on Monday, he informed the county on Friday that he's leaving and has no specific destination. The sheriff's office will notify the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension of the change in Ernst's status, said Olson.

"When he came in, he said it was temporary. Now he has decided he wants to go out of state," Olson said.

A fire at Extended Stay hotel, 7550 Office Ridge Circle, left approximately $10,000 in damage Wednesday evening. No one was injured in the fire and the damage was contained to the hotel room where it started. According to Fire Marshall Allen Nelson, the residents of the room were cooking French fries and left to get ketchup, but forgot to turn off the stove top. Had the room’s sprinkler system not been in place, the fire would have been much more extensive, noted Nelson.
”The sprinkler functioned very well.”

Other public safety briefs are below.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory for the Twin Cities metropolitan area for March 4 through 6, according to a news release.

A public meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, March 15, to provide information to the community about a Level III sex offender who has recently moved to Chanhassen, according to a release from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.

The individual who is identified has been convicted of criminal sexual conduct, which requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statute 243.166. The Risk Level of III has been assigned to this offender based largely on his potential to reoffend and his previous criminal behavior.

By Shawn Hogendorf

Just hours before the final jurors could have been selected and opening arguments were to begin in the second-degree murder trial of Charles Anthony Maddox Jr., the Scott County Attorney’s Office on Friday filed a pretrial appeal of Judge Jerome Abrams’ decision to allow the defense to present expert testimony about acute stress disorder, which is the first staage of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Eden Prairie police have arrested and charged a man they believe assaulted another man at Round Lake Park (16691 Valley View Road) at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.
According to a news release, Police arrested Richard William Rice, 45, of Mound on Tuesday. Rice faces felony assault charges.

Jury selection in the second-degree murder trial of Charles Anthony Maddox Jr., 46, continued Wednesday in Scott County District Court in Shakopee.

After filling out and returning questionnaires on Tuesday, the prospective jurors were brought before the court, sworn in and asked to answer several follow-up questions about their responses under oath.