Latest news with #Eagan
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Eagan police say new tool could cut down on pursuits
New police tool aims to crack down on pursuits — see how New police tool aims to crack down on pursuits — see how New police tool aims to crack down on pursuits — see how Police in Eagan, Minnesota, say they have a new tool to help keep the community and officers safe when there's a need for a pursuit. Leaders hope what's called the Grappler will cut down on the need to chase in the first place. The Eagan Police Department has had nine pursuits so far in 2025. Last year, they had 23. Administrative Sgt. Rich Evans explains how the Grappler works. "It drops a net in front of the car and that wraps around the tire of the suspect vehicle, immobilizing that tire and bringing the car to a stop," Evans said. It's mounted on the front of a squad and is deployed from behind a vehicle. Officer Chris Roche is trained on using the tool. "It's a relatively simple system," Roche said. When ready, an officer activates the power, then deploys the device. Eagan police demonstrating the new Grappler tool. Eagan Police Department "Initially, you hear a lot of noise with the zip ties, like braking, and the tether stretching so the vehicle stops or begins to stop, and then you apply the brake pressure to create that distance. And then once the vehicle gets to that 30 feet distance, then you can feel sometimes like a jerking motion, or the vehicle like lurching forward from, you know, them not coming to a stop yet," Roche said. Evans worked on the funding to get the Grappler to Eagan. The install is $5,000. Each replacement net costs $400. He says it's a safer option than what the department has been using, a pit maneuver or stop sticks. "The stop stick theory is good because it can deflate tires in a controlled manner, but to do that, you have to put your officers in harm's way. Now we can preemptively work and plan. It's an effective tool to be able to get into position behind a vehicle and limit the risk of the officers and the public," Evans said. The Grappler may be used at low speeds before a chase starts, or to stop someone in a stolen car or trying to flee police. "It's been kind of a known fact for several years that people think it's a free for all, and we want to stop that. We want to actually put people behind bars, hold people accountable, catch violators and enhance public safety the same time," Evans said. Roche says during an already high-pressure situation, the Grappler can make a difference. "The advantage to this is, before we get into a lot of the unpredictability of a pursuit, or potentially before we get into that, we have the opportunity to use this tool to stop it very early on, or before it even starts," Roche said. The Grappler can also be used to stop a car during a medical emergency where there is an immediate risk. The Eagan Police Department is the first agency in Minnesota to use the Grappler. There are only a handful right now in the Midwest.
CBS News
18 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Construction begins on $5.5 million veteran housing project in Eagan
With a ceremonial turn of soil on Wednesday, construction of Veteran Village in Eagan, Minnesota, is officially underway. The $5.5 million project, made possible by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), Housing First Minnesota, Lennar Homes and several other contributors, will bring 22 homes to house 36 veterans and their families. "These homes are more than just a roof with four walls," Sofia Humphries, Senior Director of Community Impact for Housing First Minnesota, said. "They represent safety, support and a new beginning." The first-of-its-kind project aims to support and honor our nation's heroes by taking care of the most essential of needs. "You need to know where you are going to lay your head at night, rest and recover to be able to take on the day," Humphries said. MACV's Chief Operating Officer Jon Lovald says in order for veterans to address other life challenges, they need to have the security that a home provides. "Your ability to work on anything else that's going on in your life revolves around having a roof over your head," Lovald said. On average, around 600 veterans enter homelessness each year in Minnesota, making projects like this even more crucial. "Twenty-two units coming online in the year is going to make a huge dent in our ability to continue outpacing veterans who enter homelessness," Lovald said. Construction on the final unit is expected to wrap up in November. For those involved in the build, the homes represent something much bigger. "We're celebrating a shared belief that every veteran in our state deserves safety, dignity, and a place to call home," Lovald said. It's a new community, driven by a mission to serve those who once served us.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Every joint practice announced for 2025 training camp, including Patriots
NFL training camp is a little over a month away, and now, we have a full list of every scheduled joint practice for all 32 teams, including the New England Patriots. There will be two joint practices for the Patriots this year. The first practice will take place on August 6 in Foxborough against the visiting Washington Commanders. On August 13, they will head on the road to Eagan to face the Minnesota Vikings. Advertisement These joint practices will give the Patriots a chance to go up against stellar competition before the regular season. The Commanders and Vikings were both playoff contenders last season, with Washington advancing all the way to the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams will provide massive tests for the Patriots' defense. The Commanders have one of the great young quarterbacks in the league in Jayden Daniels, and the Vikings have one of the league's top receiving corps with the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The Patriots are officially slated to report to training camp on July 22, and the first actual training camp practice will be held on the grass fields behind Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, July 23. Advertisement Gates for the practices are slated to open at 9:15 a.m. ET with practice starting at approximately 10:15 a.m. ET. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Every joint practice announced for training camp, including Patriots
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Eagan police help senior couple avoid losing life savings after bystander calls 911
Police say an Eagan, Minnesota, couple in their 70s was one screen away from losing $125,000 on Monday. The couple believed the Federal Trade Commission had contacted them to help them move their life savings over to Bitcoin. "The elderly couple come in, and I did notice that they went straight to the machine," Roy Solis with Farmer's Grandson Eatery said. "And so I didn't say anything, but the one young lady that was here with her two friends, she did come up to me, and she said, 'I think there's two people over there getting scammed right now.'" That bystander called 911, and Eagan police say an officer arrived moments later, stopping them from completing the transaction. "I went over there and I spoke to them. I said, 'Excuse me, folks, I just want to let you know this machine is often accredited to scammers.' And the husband, he looked very intelligent, he looked at me and said, 'No, I know what we're doing. We're alright, thank you.'" Solis said. Sgt. Rich Evans with the Eagan Police Department says the couple had a data breach about two weeks prior and had their identities stolen. "So in the last couple weeks, they've been working on trying to work with the banks to make sure they can protect their identities and preserve their financial status," Evans said. Monday morning, the couple received a phone call from a person claiming to be from the FTC, who said he was there to help them protect their identities and preserve their finances. It was that caller who gave them instructions that led them to the Bitcoin ATM at Farmer's Grandson Eatery. "The scammer was so convincing, so believable, and had wrapped them into this confidence to the level where he truly believed, if he didn't do this, he was going to be out everything," Evans said. "If it weren't for the citizen that was in shopping that day, having the wherewithal to look and say, 'This doesn't feel right,' that couple would have lost everything." Police say scams like this are on the rise, so it's important to be vigilant now more than ever.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Vikings' 2025 training camp features night session, joint practices with Patriots
The Minnesota Vikings announced their 2025 training camp schedule Tuesday, with a dozen practices open to fans and plenty of ancillary activities. Training camp opens July 26 and runs through Aug. 14 at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. While camp will open at noon for fans most days, there is one night practice set for Aug. 4. July 28 will mark the first padded practice. The final two open practices — Aug. 13 and 14 — will be held jointly with the New England Patriots. Season ticket members can attend all but the night practice for free. Tickets for older children are $5, while adults will pay $10. The night practice will cost an additional $5 per ticket. Every practice is free for children under 3 feet tall. Ticket reservations open up to the general public at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with 4,000 available for each daytime session and 7,000 on offer for the night practice. In addition to witnessing on-field work, attendees can snag autographs from their favorite players, visit the Vikings Museum, play games and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Training camp will offer fans a chance to see new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, as well as several other new faces on the offense and defense. The Vikings' first preseason game is set for Aug. 9 at home against the Houston Texans. They open the regular season with Monday Night Football in Chicago on Sept. 8.
