Tired Driver Crashes into Line of Trees Before Car Burst into Flames

Officer Shawn Fitzhenry responded to a report of a single vehicle crash with the vehicle on fire on the side of the roadway. When Officer Fitzhenry arrived on the scene, he discovered that the driver, who was uninjured, had safely exited the car after the crash.

Lakeville Fire Department units arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire without incident. The driver told Officer Fitzhenry that he had possibly dozed off and drove off the roadway, striking a line of trees. The car was a total loss.

The officers at the traffic crash scene felt the driver was very lucky not to have been seriously injured, based upon the damage to the car. 

DOMESTIC ABUSE LUNCHEON

The 28th Annual Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon was held at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club last Friday afternoon. Over 270 attendees gathered to hear domestic violence survivor Leigh Block and former Saint Paul Police Chief John Harrington speak on domestic violence. The Lakeville Police Department has partnered with 360 Communities to cohost this annual event for over 20 years, with the goal of raising awareness of domestic violence across our communities. Over the years, it has evolved from a small informal gathering of police officers and domestic violence advocates to the premiere event in the Twin Cities for bringing attention to the issues of domestic violence. 

Every year at the Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon, community leaders, elected officials, police officers, communications and corrections officers, criminal prosecutors, domestic violence advocates, and concerned citizens all come together to reaffirm their commitment to working together to end domestic violence in our communities. 

Police officers and Sheriff’s deputies representing law enforcement agencies across Dakota County and Scott County were all in attendance at the event, as well as most of the Police Chiefs from Dakota County cities and the Dakota County Sheriff, Dave Bellows. The officers at the Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon from our Department were: Officer Kevin O’Neill, Sergeants Mike Sheady and Jim Puncochar, Captains John Arvidson and Tim Knutson, and Detectives Dave Watson, Kelli Coughlin, and Michelle Roberts. 

Leigh Block is a survivor of domestic violence who spoke about her experiences. She was a victim of domestic abuse by her husband over a number of years when she lived in St. Paul, that ended when her husband murdered her 5-year-old daughter, Mikayla and then took his own life in September of 2004. Then five months later, Leigh’s mother also died as a result of domestic violence. Leigh courageously shared her experience as a survivor of domestic violence in a very moving account of the events with the audience. Metro Transit Police Chief John Harrington also spoke on the initiatives started in the St. Paul Police Department that were successful in reducing the incidence of domestic violence and domestic violence homicides, while he was St. Paul Police Chief. 

WEEKLY LPD SNAPSHOT

Sampling of LPD activity for the week of Feb. 14 to Feb. 21, 2013

Traffic crashes: 15 Alarms: 32 Animal Calls: 16 Medical Emergency Calls: 26 Thefts: 18 Traffic Stops: 136.