Faribault Police Chief Proud of Officers Actions

John Sherwin, Faribault Police Chief confirmed a couple of incidents that happened in the community Tuesday night resulting in positive outcomes.

Sherwin told KDHL the department was notified to be on the lookout for a stolen vehicle out of Austin, Mn.  About 6:13 p.m. an officer on patrol observed the stolen vehicle and attempted to initiate a stop in the 500 block of 1st. Avenue NW, the vehicle fled.

Sherwin says the pursuit lasted about 2 minutes with the vehicle circling the neighborhood around Central Park.

Eventually the driver pulled into the yard of a residence in the 300 block of 7th St. NW before attempting to run on foot.

He was quickly taken into custody.

KDHL visited with the man from the home where the arrest happened and he related a witness told authorities they thought the individual attempted to enter his home.

Officers went inside the home to make sure there was no stranger there.

The homeowner told us it was scary for his 5 year old and 8 year old and said there were some tense moments in the home on an evening when his wife was preparing a meat loaf dinner.

The stolen vehicle driver pulled into a yard between some bushes and his house with Faribault police with lights on pulling in to block the vehicle, drawing guns in pursuit of the individual.

Arrested was Kevin Paul Kurz, age 50, with a listed address of Rush City, Mn.

Sherwin says he was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Fleeing Police in a Motor Vehicle, and Driving After Cancellation-Inimical to Public Safety.

Officers went back to the home on 7th Street and presented teddy bears to the two children.

The father told KDHL he was very happy with the way the Faribault Police officers handled the situation.

Also Tuesday night approximately 8:45 p.m. officers were dispatched to a report of a young man running toward the viaduct and yelling he was going to jump.

The report came in as a person in a mental health crisis.

This was on the north side of the viaduct which spans over the Straight River.  Faribault Police officers were able to convince the young man to go for treatment.

The Faribault Police Chief was proud of the way officers handled both situations.

Displaying empathy toward the despondent young man on the viaduct and assuring the youngsters on 7th Street everything was okay with the teddy bear gifts.