Sheriff news: Gas drive-off suspect caught in Vergas

An arrest was made on Oct. 13 following two gas drive-offs in Vergas, one on Oct. 12 and the other on Oct. 13 at the same location.

According to sheriff deputies, the thief took $30.01 worth of gasoline the first day and $60.86 the second day. Evidence led authorities to the suspect on Oct. 13.

The suspect was expected to be charged with stealing a total of $90.87 worth of gasoline.

Three teenagers were injured Oct. 10 in a traffic accident north of New York Mills. The accident took place at 9:32 p.m. at the intersection of 530th Avenue and 410th Street.

The driver, 18, lost control of the vehicle which rolled and landed on its roof. Roads were muddy at the time of the mishap.

The driver and his two male passengers, each 14 years of age, were injured but those injuries were non-life-threatening.

A citation was issued to the driver from sheriff deputies, stating he had a duty to “drive with care.” This was in reference to his reckless driving on Oct. 10.

A Vergas resident had a checkbook stolen and, on Oct. 11, reported to sheriff deputies that the checkbook had been used for illegal transactions in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The resident’s bank was notified.

In Fargo-Moorhead, a check for $1,018 had been written out at JC Penney. Another check for $262 was written out at Hornbachers.

Ten cattle panels were stolen from an out building northwest of Pelican Rapids and reported to the sheriff office on Oct. 11.

The location was near Highway 30 in the extreme section of northwestern Otter Tail County.

Fire destroyed a garage on the northwest side of Pelican Lake, north of Pelican Rapids, on Oct. 11.

The fire was reported at 6:12 a.m. Sheriff deputies said the location of the fire was close to Highway 20 that runs along the county line between Otter Tail and Becker counties. Fire department personnel from Pelican Rapids and Vergas responded to the scene of the fire.

Otter Tail County sheriff deputies reported that fire destroyed a house near the southeast side of Rush Lake, northeast of Ottertail City, starting at 5:01 a.m. Oct. 8.

The home, a double-wide manufactured structure on 340th Street, was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Investigators were later looking at possible electrical malfunctions as a possible cause of the fire.

Coming to the scene of the fire were members of the New York Mills and Ottertail fire departments. The blaze was out of control when firefighters arrived

Stolen from an unlocked truck, from the center console, was cash from a wallet and prescription pills southwest of Dent on Oct. 8.

The location was Star Ridge Drive on the south side of Star Lake. An investigation was continuing as of Oct. 9.

A woman, 23, was riding in a truck bed in Henning while household items were being moved to a location in town on Oct. 7. A gust of wind came up and shifted some of the items, resulting in the woman falling out of the truck, which was going 20 miles per hour.

The woman suffered scrapes and had an ankle injury.

Lake Region Electric Cooperative, based in Pelican Rapids, plans to pursue civil action following tampering with electric service on 315th Avenue in central Otter Tail County.

A meter had been deactivated after a LREC customer refused to make arrangements for payment options after nonpayment of bills. The customer then illegally bypassed the meter and continued to use power.

LREC, on Oct. 7, took further steps to disconnect power so electricity could no longer be accessed. Cooperative officials did say that all efforts were made to go over payment options but that the customer needs to be willing to meet with LREC representatives.

Lottery tickets were reported stolen Oct. 7 from a convenience store near Battle Lake. An investigation was continuing as of Oct. 8.

The business is near Highway 210, west of town.