Relatives in the News - "Good Boy"

John and Major

It seems I don't have much opportunity to report on famous relatives in the news. Perhaps it's time to get new relatives? Nah - that won't happen.

Ah - here's one. You notice I have to cast a wide net to find articles when I must resort to ones that feature the good deeds of my four-legged relations.

Major - a Roseville Police Canine Officer - is a relative of sorts. Major works with Officer John Jorgensen - whose married to my cousin. He had a busy night a few weeks back,

Two teens decided to go on a little drive in the wee hours of Jan. 11. However, Ross Niehues, 19, of Red Wing, and Joseph Barke, 18, of Roseville, didn't have sightseeing in mind. Instead, the two spent a good chunk of the morning committing various acts of vandalism in Roseville, Falcon Heights and Lauderdale.

Thanks to their mischief, Barke has been charged with a first degree felony count of criminal damage to property. Niehus has also been charged with felony first degree criminal damage to property as well as a third-degree DWI offense.

According to a report written by Roseville Police Sgt. Erika Scheider, police responded to a call about 1:10 a.m. on the 1300 block of Ryan Avenue. The home owner told police they heard a crashing noise outside their home. When the home owner went to check it out they saw two men running from the scene. The home owner saw the two men leave in a small pickup. The home owner then discovered significant damage to two vehicles, including broken windows and the theft of hockey equipment from one of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, the report adds, St. Anthony Police were also taking a report of criminal damage to property at the same time. That call also referenced the same pickup as the Roseville call.

According to the report, St. Anthony Police spotted the vehicle driving east on Skillman Avenue, and made a traffic stop. When the truck came to a stop, both suspects fled on foot.

A St. Anthony officer located the missing hockey equipment in the truck.

Major, a German Shepherd and Roseville K-9 officer, quickly apprehended Niehues. Major then tracked Barke, who was hiding under a vehicle.

. . .

Quick phone calls from home owners were a great help to police, Scheider added.

She also had high praise for Major.

"It was just a great job by the K-9 officer," Scheider said.

Good Boy Major!