The following items were among many reports from the Staples Police department.

o Jim Soule reported May 17 that someone had stolen a 12-volt battery from a tractor parked at his used car lot at 623 Second Avenue N.W. He also reported a 1987 Ford Ranger truck had possibly been tampered with as the molding around the drivers side window was hanging. He thinks the theft occurred after May 13.

o A red Yamaha dirt bike was reported stolen sometime over the past weekend from the yard at 207 Roosevelt S.W. The bike, with a red taped seat cushion, was valued at about $200.

o A man came to the Staples Police Office on May 16 and turned in a wallet that had been found at the Sylvan Shores Club House in Fawn Lake Township. The wallet was turned over to a Todd County deputy to be returned to the owner.

o A Staples police officer was informed that a local woman had received a call from someone reporting that her grandson had gone to Canada and had been arrested. She reported the guy on the phone was very convincing and she wired him several thousand dollars to get her grandson out of jail. The officer determined that her grandson had never made it to Canada and the whole story was a scam.

o Police were told about 1:42 a.m. May 14 that several people were fighting in the street at 403 7th Street S.W. One man was reported to have been unconscious when loaded into a car and taken to the hospital. The incident was under investigation.

o About 8 p.m. on May 11, police received a report of a large crowd fighting at Pine Grove Park. As the officer approached the park, he saw numerous vehicles leaving from every exit. The reporting party stated the fight was between Pine River/ Backus kids and several girls from Staples. The fight reportedly started because they were “disrespecting each other on Facebook.” All people were gone on arrival of police.

o Police, fire and ambulance services responded at about 3:15 p.m. May 11 to an accident on Highway 10 near Second Street N.E. in Staples. A 2000 Ford Focus driven by David Kobliska was eastbound on the highway when his car struck a light pole on the south side of the road. The pole broke and landed on the roof of his car. He was taken from the scene by ambulance to Lakewood Health Systems Hospital in Staples. His car had major front end damage.

o Lucas Bollig, a Central Lakes College student at Staples, reported May 11 that someone had stolen his craftsmen toolbox and numerous Craftsman tools from a classroom at the college. The value of the stolen items came to $719. This theft is believed to have happened between April 29 and May 4.

o Corey Woodwick reported May 10 that someone had stolen his son’s bicycle the previous week. It was a charcoal gray BMX style with red stripes and 20 inch rims, taken from the yard at 301 Third Ave. N.E.

o Police received a noise complaint May 11 concerning 807 Highway 10 East. The officer reported Nicole Twa was using a gas generator to power their house and neighbors are complaining about the noise. The resident was told they could not make excessive noise anytime and especially after dark.