Carver County motorists will face enhanced speed enforcement patrols throughout July as part of a statewide campaign administrated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

During 2007–2009, speed was a contributing factor in seven fatalities in Carver County and 325 traffic deaths statewide, according to a press release from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office. Speed is the most commonly reported contributing factor in fatal crashes.

Derek Lee, a sergeant with the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, has announced his candidacy for the Carver County Sheriff.

Lee has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience as a licensed deputy sheriff, according to a press release, according to a press release. He came to Carver County in 1990 after working as a deputy sheriff in Ramsey County for more than three years.

Kevin Lee Vraa, 43, of Victoria, received a 12-year sentence for sexually assaulting an 11-year old child, according to a press release from Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler.

Vraa was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for the sexual assault that occurred in April 2008 in Victoria, the release stated.

Sheriff: ‘We are shocked and angered’ by betrayal

By Richard Crawford

Criminal charges against an 18-year member of the Carver County Sheriff’s Office this week prompted emotions ranging from outrage to sadness, said Sheriff Bud Olson.

“This is a story of one person, with a high level of authorization and access who discreetly fed a drug habit,” Olson said at a press conference Tuesday.

On March 24, the Carver County Sheriff's Office received a report of theft of funds from the non-profit group SAFER, according to a press release from Sheriff Bud Olson.

The SAFER Board of Directors reported a theft of more than $5,000 may have occurred within their organization.

Search And Find Emergency Responders (SAFER) is a Waconia-based non-profit organization that helps locate people with special needs who wander and returns them to their caregiver.

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Feb. 8 to Feb. 14.

Feb. 8Numerous reports of vehicles off roadways and snowbird violations.

At 2:48 p.m., winter parking violations were reported in Chanhassen.

At 5:03 p.m., responded to the 1400 block of Heron Drive in Chanhassen for a report of damage to a mailbox.

SHERIFF

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Dec. 7 – Dec. 13:

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6:

Nov. 30

At 9:34 a.m., responded to the 7800 block of Madelyn Creek Drive in Victoria for a report of credit card fraud.

At 1:55 p.m., responded to the Highway 5/Audubon Road intersection in Chanhassen for a traffic stop. A Waconia woman was cited for speed, possession of an open alcohol container and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Roberto Vazquez-Garcia, 34, of Henderson, was arrested and charged with a first-degree drug sales crime, according to a press release from Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson.

An investigation into the fatal June 10, 2009 Waconia Farm Supply explosion that killed Ryan Samuelson, 18, of Cologne has been completed, according to a press release from Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson and Waconia Fire Chief Randy Sorensen.

“The investigation revealed no statutes were violated as a result of this tragic event” stated Olson, in a press release.