Blotter: Soccer Player Punches Referee

Every week, Patch will publish a selection of Inver Grove Heights police reports taken from previous weeks. Review an interactive police report map here: http://mapq.st/q1KuoM.

Aug. 14

2 a.m.—Police responded to a fifth-degree assault incident on the 5800 block of Blaine Ave.

1:30 p.m.—Police responded to a report of an assault on the 1800 block of 105th St. The victim, a referee at a soccer game, said that an unknown male punched him in the face while he was trying to break up a fight between two players. The referee gave the offending players a red card for brawling on the field, but the suspect left before police arrived.

9 p.m.—Police responded to a report of a domestic assault by strangulation on the 8200 block of Delaney Dr. E.

Aug. 15

3:40 p.m.—Police responded to a report of a burglary on the 8500 block of Atlantic Ave.

11 p.m.—Police responded to reports of a burglary on the 4900 block of Ashley Lane E.

Aug 16.

7:30 p.m.—Police responded to a report of a domestic assault in progress on the 7700 block of Barbara Ave. When police arrived at the scene, they found a hysterical female, who told an officer that a male had pushed her and threatened her with a box cutter. The 25-year-old man admitted he had a box cutter in a nearby car, but denied threatening the woman with it and said he only threatened to hurt himself. Witnesses told police they saw the man shove the woman. He was arrested and transported to Dakota County Jail.

8 p.m.—Police responded to a report of a burglary at Emanuel Lutheran Church. An unknown suspect or suspects kicked open the door to a shed at the church and rifled through cabinets and wooden drawers. Police found no physical evidence at the scene, and nothing of value was taken. The shed is used to cook stew for a church fundraiser. A church official also reported that they found empty alcohol containers in the church cemetery.

Aug. 19

1:58 p.m.—Police responded to a report of an assault on the 3100 block of 65th St. A woman told officers that her stepson had been beat up. Upon arrival, police spoke to the man, who had multiple injuries, including a gash to the back of the head, which appeared to need stitches. The victim told officers he didn't know what happened and didn't want to press charges, but a friend who said he was defending the victim told police that five men attacked the man in a laundry room of an apartment building. Police spoke to one of the suspects, but did not arrest him, because the victim did not want to press charges. The victim was transported to the hospital.