Stillwater Police Blotter: Arson, Bank Burglary and an Alleged Snake Killer

Police continue to investigate Wednesday (July 13) morning’s arson fire at the Birchwood Townhomes. The fire resulted in 55 people being displaced and more than $500,000 in damages. No one was injured. 

Two men were charged with second-degree burglary after they allegedly broke into Eagle Valley Bank on Wednesday (July 13) morning. Police believe the men were also involved in a burglary at Coldwell Banker that same night. According to a police report, the burglars used cinder block to break a bank window. Once inside, they entered the lobby area and then went over a short counter behind the teller line where Christopher Schaeppi found keys in a drawer. After breaking a key off in a drawer, the duo headed into the bank manager's office, rifled through some drawers and ultimately snatched a bag of cookies from the office. Both cases remain under investigation. 

A 21-year-old Stillwater man allegedly stole the key to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and then broke in Wednesday (July 13) morning and killed her pet snake because he thought she was “cheating” on him. The man allegedly trashed the woman’s apartment and wrote the words “I loved you” in her snake’s blood on the hardwood floor. Police also found a note that read “I will kill you” on the woman’s refrigerator and found her pet corn snake dead, with a knife stuck in the reptile’s mid-section, the report states.

In other police news:

July 8:

Theft of $50 by a “quick-change artist” was reported at Liberty Wine and Spirits. It was reported that a man attempted to pay for $1 worth of alcohol with a $50 bill and confused the clerk to the point where she gave him change for a $50 bill, in addition to giving him another $50.

July 9:

A 30-year-old Stillwater man was cited speeding after he was clocked traveling 48mph in a 30-mph zone near Highway 95 and 4th Street North.

A 26-year-old Stillwater woman was arrested on suspicion of third-degree DWI (test refusal), driving after suspension and a felony drug possession warrant out of St. Croix County. Police responded to a report of an intoxicated customer at Holiday Gas Station. An officer saw the woman driving erratically. When police asked if she had been drinking, she allegedly reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of Robitussin, saying it was for her kids. The woman was arrested and refused field-sobriety tests and a PBT. According to court records, the woman has one previous DWI conviction.

July 10:

A 28-year-old Stillwater man was jailed for fifth-degree domestic assault after he allegedly punched his 54-year-old father and damaged property inside of a home on Sterling Way. The 28-year-old man had a PBT reading of .24.

July 11:

Felony theft was reported at Midtown Antiques after a vendor reported that 11 antique rings valued at $3,000 were stolen from a display case. The same vendor reported the theft of $4,000 in antique rings earlier this summer. The case is under investigation.

July 12:

Police are investigating a report of credit card fraud after a New York man reported that his credit card number had been used without permission at the Lexington Inn and Suites.

First-degree burglary and the theft of $13 in change was reported after someone broke into an unlocked garage in the 1000 block of Sycamore Street West and stole change from a vehicle. 

The preceding items were taken from theStillwater Police Department. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Incidents are listed in the order in which they were reported, not necessarily the order in which they occurred. When names are used, it indicates that felony charges have been filed in Washington County District Court.