Records, Oct. 10, 2006

District Court

Kandiyohi County

* A 50-year-old Willmar man made his first appearance Monday on third-degree felony drug charges including conspiracy to sell.

Santiago Reyes was charged with two third-degree controlled substance crimes, one for conspiracy to sell after a CEE-VI Drug Task Force investigation.

Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail at $50,000 and conditional bail at $5,000.

According to the criminal complaint, Reyes was charged after CEE-VI agents were notified Sept. 30 by Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension authorities about a package containing 15 pounds of marijuana. The package was confiscated at the airport but was en route to a David Uribe in Willmar.

The task force arranged for the package to be delivered Oct. 2 by undercover agents. The package was accepted and signed for by a Gabriel Bazaldua Moreno, 37, of Willmar. Shortly after the package was delivered, task force agents searched the house. The box was found locked in a bedroom closet.

The bedroom was later determined to belong to Reyes. Other drug-related material was found in the home as well.

The complaint states that Bazaldua Moreno initially told agents that he had placed the box on the kitchen table and that another man, Carlos Cruz, 60, had placed it in the room. Cruz was in the residence when the package was delivered but was apprehended by authorities when he tried to leave on a bike. Cruz told agents that he had stopped to get a glass of water.

Reyes came home during the search and was questioned by authorities. He told agents that he was the only one with a key to the lock on the closet. He denied selling marijuana or knowing David Uribe -- the name to whom the package was addressed.

The complaint states that Bazaldua Moreno later admitted that Reyes had asked him to wait at the home for the package and to lock it in the closet.

The next court date for Reyes is scheduled for Oct. 23.

Bazaldua Moreno made his first appearance Wednesday, facing the same charges as Reyes. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 16.

* An 18-year-old Willmar man made his first appearance Monday facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

Abdullahi Sheikh Ghedi is charged with a felony count of terroristic threats and misdemeanor charges of domestic assault and fifth-degree assault. Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail at $5,000. Ghedi was released conditionally on his own recognizance.

Charges were filed against Ghedi after a Saturday incident when he allegedly kicked his girlfriend in the head.

According to the complaint, Ghedi's girlfriend called the Willmar Police Department after she and Ghedi had gotten into an argument. During the argument, Ghedi became upset and allegedly punched and kicked her several times.

According to the complaint, Ghedi said during a police interview that he only pushed his girlfriend lightly on the left shoulder once.

Ghedi's next court date is scheduled for Oct. 23.

* A 30-year-old Olivia man made his first appearance Monday on four felony forgery charges.

Javier Santos Tampa is charged with two counts of aggravated forgery and two counts of forgery after allegedly falsifying work documents. Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail at $10,000 and conditional bail at $2,000.

Charges were filed after the Willmar Police Department received a call from a California resident who said someone in Willmar was using her husband's name, birth date and Social Security number and working at Jennie-O Turkey Store.

According to the complaint, Tampa told authorities he was originally from Mexico and that he purchased the identification to work in Minnesota.

Tampa's next court date is scheduled for Oct. 23.

* A 23-year-old Willmar man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a fifth-degree drug charge.

Matthew Steven Torgerson was charged with a fifth-degree controlled substance crime and two petty misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana.

Torgerson pleaded guilty to the controlled substance charge under the agreement that the two petty misdemeanors would be dismissed. Torgerson also asked for a stay of adjudication on the felony charge as part of the agreement.

A stay of adjudication provides for the charge to be removed from an individual's criminal record upon satisfactory completion of a probationary period.

Charges were filed against Torgerson after a July 1 incident when the vehicle in which he was riding was stopped by a Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputy. During a body search, the deputy found a glass pipe, marijuana and a small bottle containing methamphetamine on Torgerson.

Torgerson is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 9.

Theft

WILLMAR -- The theft of a toolbox was reported to the Willmar Police Department around 7:20 p.m. Sunday along the 1800 block of Becker Avenue Southeast. The toolbox and 48-piece tool set were taken from a Ford Ranger. The caller also reported that the sliding window latch on the vehicle had been broken.

PENNOCK -- The theft of a cassette player, fuel cap and spotlight was reported to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department around 10:45 a.m. Monday along U.S. Highway 12 Northwest, near the intersection of County Road 1. The items were taken from a Cat excavator at a construction site.

WILLMAR -- The theft of a political sign was reported to the Willmar Police Department around 1 p.m. Monday along the 3900 block of 15th Avenue Southeast.

SPICER -- The theft of meat from a freezer in a garage was reported to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department around 11:15 a.m. Monday along the 400 block of Harriet Street.

Vandalism

WILLMAR -- A flag on a mailbox was reported damaged to the Willmar Police Department around 11 a.m. Monday along the 1400 block of Ninth Street Southwest.

WILLMAR -- Damage to a garage door was reported to the Willmar Police Department around 11:10 a.m. Monday at Gilbertson Oil, 303 Gorton Ave. N.W. A Ryobi grinder was also reported missing during the incident. The grinder was valued around $119.

WILLMAR -- A car was reported keyed to the Willmar Police Department around 1:10 p.m. Monday at Regency Estates West, 401 30th St. N.W.

Arrest

WILLMAR -- A 15-year-old Grove City boy living at the Kandiyohi County Boys Group Home was arrested Sunday afternoon after damaging the front door at the home and fleeing officers.

The Willmar Police Department was called after the 15-year-old allegedly ran away from the home, damaging the home's front door in the process.

When the boy was located, he initially fled authorities but was later found. The incident took place along Lakeland Drive Northeast near High Avenue. The boy was arrested for fleeing a police officer on foot and criminal damage to property.

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