CHASKA — A Chaska man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for violating his probation and failing to register as a predatory offender.

The Eden Prairie Police see a steady of stream of “tamper with auto” incidents – cases where crooks rifle through or steal property from vehicles.

“We could prevent so many of these if people would just lock their doors,” said Eden Prairie Police Sgt. Matt Sackett.

In one recent notable case, someone on the 8600 block of Windward Circle left their $20,000 Lexus open, with the keys still in the ignition. The car was stolen at around 9 a.m. Aug. 12 but later recovered in Minneapolis.

Approximately 10 people were treated for minor injuries after a deck collapsed underneath them during a house party in Eden Prairie Saturday evening. Eden Prairie public safety responders got the call around 8 p.m. to the 9200 block of Talus Circle. Between 15 to 20 people had been on a second story deck when the front part of the deck collapsed. Police arrived and found about 20 people milling around the back of the residence in various states of distress. Ten were transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment of sprains and at least one broken ankle.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting online applications from people who would like to volunteer for public safety duties at the Sheriff’s Office.

Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Water Patrol Unit, Mounted Patrol, Mobile Amateur Radio Corps and Emergency Squad Unit, according to a news release.

By Mark Olson

At 4:30 p.m., Aug. 1, emergency crews responded to a canoe tipped over in the Minnesota River at Carver.

The caller reported there were three individuals in the water, according to a press release from Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson.

Sheriff’s deputies and the Carver Fire Department were dispatched to assist with the rescue.

Adam Kirsch, 26, Erica Paschke, 24, and Joelle Paschke, 19, all of Chaska had been canoeing down the Minnesota River from Jordan to Chaska. The individuals were canoeing along the west shoreline when

Criminal charges filed Tuesday offer further details in the death of six-month-old Rowan Richardson.

Saturday, police arrested Randel Richardson after Rowan was found dead in the family’s Eden Prairie home. Tuesday, Randel, 36, was charged with murder in the first degree. It is the first homicide in Eden Prairie since 2001.

“It’s very hard to understand,” said County Attorney Mike Freeman.

“We have charged first degree murder because we think it’s premeditated.”

Motorists will experience delays and a detour at the Fish Lake Interchange in Maple Grove as the ramp from northbound Interstate 494 to westbound Interstate 94 closes at 10 p.m. Friday, July 30, according to a news release.

The release said: Posted detours will direct motorists to follow eastbound I-94/I-694 and use the loops at the Highway 169 interchange to travel westbound on I-94/I-694. The ramp will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2.

By Shawn Hogendorf

The Minnesota Court of Appeals will hear arguments Wednesday about three motions prosecutors filed in Scott County District Court just prior to the start of Charles Anthony Maddox Jr.’s jury trial for the alleged murder of his estranged wife and Shakopee Valley News reporter, Ruth Anne Maddox.

The following are some tips for a fun Fourth of July we've compiled:

Kiddie parade essentials
Children ages 10 and younger are invited to participate in the annual Kiddie Parade at 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Meet at the Community Center to line up at about 10:30 a.m. The route heads across the walking bridge to Round Lake Park where it ends up near the entertainment stage.

The Eden Prairie Police Department is seeking information on addition incidents of vandalism in the city. Last week, it was reported that graffiti had been left on equipment in Franlo Park and Anderson Lakes Parkway. According to Sgt. Bill Wyffels, there were four more incidents of similar graffiti.
“Unfortunately, all these are in parks of the city,” noted Wyffels.