Crime - Cottage Grove Journal

Hugo woman sentenced for threatening House Speaker Lisa Demuth

Stillwater, Minn. — A Hugo woman who left a series of threatening voicemails for Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth was sentenced today in Washington County District Court to three years of … more

9/19/26

Brittney Amber Branshaw was charged vis summons Aug. 5 for mail theft after a traffic stop in Cottage Grove.

Hastings woman charged with felony mail theft after CG traffic stop

A Hastings woman is facing charges after being pulled over July 17 on East Point Douglas Road in Cottage Grove. Brittney Amber Branshaw, age 28 of Hastings, was charged by summons Aug. 5 under … more

By Joseph Back | 8/30/26

Travis Michael Danzl was arrested on a felony firearms charge after allegedly pointing a gun at another driver Aug. 12.

Cottage Grove man arrested for alleged gun pointing incident

A Cottage Grove man faces a felony firearms charge after a road rage incident Aug. 12. Travis Michael Danzl, age 53 of Cottage Grove, was arraigned Aug. 13 under Minnesota Statute 609.713.1 for … more

By Joseph Back | 8/30/26

Touyer Yang of Cottage Grove was arrested and booked in the Washington County Jail Tuesday, Feb. 3, following a call that resulted in school lockdown.

CG man arrested after school threat

A Cottage Grove man is facing charges related to an incident that resulted in a school lockdown at Cottage Grove Elementary last week. Touyer Yang, age 46 of Cottage Grove, was arrested on Tuesday, … more

By Joseph Back | 2/12/26

Manager charged with theft from Newport company

The manager of a Newport business was charged in Dakota County Court last week with using a company credit card for nearly $400,000 in personal purchases over 4-1/2 years. Joseph Alexander Collins, … more

Staff Report | 11/6/25

For more than three hours, Kingsley Fifi Bimpong was held in Dakota County Jail the morning of Nov. 17, 2024 before being taken to Regina Hospital and later declared dead due to intracerebral hemorrhage.

‘Callous indifference:’ Dakota County sued for alleged wrongful death after stay in Dakota County Jail

Last week a case was filed against Dakota County, three Eagan police officers, and eight Dakota County correctional officers seeking $120 million in money damages for an alleged wrongful death of a … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 10/14/25

Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson presented on Crime statistics at the Oct. 1 Cottage Grove City Council.

CG Council given crime stats by county attorney

Cottage Grove has a new thermal drone, courtesy of the Cottage Grove Public Safety Board (PSB). Presented to the Public Safety Department at the Sept. 17 Council meeting, the new DJI Matrice 4 Series … more

By Joseph Back | 10/10/25

Woodbury PD assists in resolving home invasion and kidnapping call

On Friday Sept. 19, Washington County deputies responded to a home invasion/kidnapping call near 7300 Inwood Way N. in the City of Grant. Over the weekend, detectives, deputies, and K9 teams from … more

10/2/25

Lonnie William Cory was the driver of the Harley Davidson motorcycle that collided with a Land Rover SUV resulting in life threatening injuries for his passenger, Kimberly Ann Robinson. Robinson was taken to Regions Hospital and Cory fled the scene. He was later arrested at his home in Inver Grove Heights.

Motorcycle passenger ejected after contact with SUV

COTTAGE GROVE, MN – August 3, 2025, according to the Minnesota State Patrol, a two-vehicle accident occurred on Highway 61 around 6:54 p.m. near the northbound exit ramp to 70th Street South. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/6/25

A St. Paul Park man was taken into custody after leading police on a 28-minute pursuit at speeds up to 100 mph on Dec. 12.

Michael Dennis Jerry, 55, St. Paul Park, was charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in cancelation and a fine of up to $5,000. A … more

Staff Report | 12/23/24

Cottage Grove man charged in equipment theft

A Cottage Grove man was charged in Dakota County Nov. 14 with felony theft over $5,000. Christopher Lee Kujawa, 45, Cottage Grove, and William Raymond Walter, 50, Chicago, allegedly stole a pierce of … more

Staff Report | 11/21/24