Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Midnight Search in Fridley Yields No Arrests

One possible suspect detained and released near 60th Ave. and Fifth St. NE.

Update (7 a.m. Sunday): Here are more details about events that led to a police search late Friday night and early Saturday morning in the area of 60th Avenue NE and Fifth Street NE, Fridley.

Neighbor Brian Onkst said he had stepped outside to smoke around 11:30 p.m. Friday when he saw a man walk between the back fence and around a vacant house in the 6000 block of Fifth Street NE.

Knowing no one was home, Onkst used his cell phone to call the homeowner and ask if he was expecting visitors. (No, call the police, the homeowner said.) Onkst went inside his own home to call the Fridley Police Department.

Find out what's happening in Fridleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

When Onkst returned outside, he said, the suspect was sitting on the steps of the neighbor's house.

As police arrived, the suspect fled on foot.

Find out what's happening in Fridleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"He was hiding, then he took off running," said Onkst's wife, Robin.

Brian Onkst said he saw the man "bolt" and signaled police that the suspect had headed west.

Like Fridley Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Start a blog at Fridley Patch

Police set up a perimeter in the neighborhood, according to Fridley Officer Nick Kaufer. A police dog from the Blaine Police Department aided in the search, but it was another officer who found a suspect. Police detained and then released the male, who Kaufer said he believed to be an adult. He said the search went on for about an hour.

Kaufer said someone had indeed broken into the house but it was yet unclear as of 1:30 a.m. Sunday whether anything was missing. He said he planned to take more photograph before clearing the scene early Sunday morning.

See also: ""

Update (2:15 a.m. Sunday): Fridley police said a vacant house in the 6000 block of Fifth Street NE was an apparent burglary target Saturday night, after neighbors saw a suspicious person outside.

An hourlong search of the neighborhood with the help of a K9 unit from the Blaine Police Department led police to detain a possible suspect, according to Fridley Officer Nick Kaufer. Police identified and released one male, Kaufer said.

Neighbor Brian Onkst said he called Fridley police about 11:30 p.m. Saturday after seeing a male suspect walk around the house and confirming by phone that the homeowner, who was away, wasn't expecting a visitor.

Update (12:25 a.m. Sunday): Police are searching for males possibly involved in "suspicious activity" in the 5900 block of Fifth Street NE, Fridley.

They have set up a perimeter of about two blocks radius around that location, according to Anoka County dispatch.

At 12:20 a.m., they had not caught anyone and were "actively searching," according to a dispatch official.

The search has been going on since shortly before midnight. Agencies involved are the Fridley Police Department with assistance from Blaine and Spring Lake Park officers, as well as a Blaine K9 unit.

Check here for updates and at the Facebook link below.

Original post (midnight): Police have set up a perimeter and are conducting a suspect search with K9 units, shortly before midnight, according to the NE Minneapolis Crime Watch Facebook page.

Residents as far north as 73rd report hearing sirens.

Check for updates as more information becomes available.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.