Fatal Accidents, Light-Rail Robbery and Dead Body Leads to Pot Operation: West Metro Crime Report

The following is a collection of articles that recently appeared on Patch sites in Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael.

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Golden Valley Man Charged with Robbing Man at Light-Rail Station

Police say Deshaun Marcel Martin grabbed the victim's wallet, then punched him in the head several times while he struggled with another man, trying to get the wallet back.

Medical Examiner IDs Man Killed in Accident

A two-vehicle accident on Highway 12 near the intersection of County Road 90 in Independence claimed the life of one person Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Joshua Dale Vredenburg chased a Richfield man through his yard with a vehicle, before leading police on a rush-hour chase, causing several accidents and a fire before crashing into a house.

Police: Man Hit Boy With Pipe For Defending His Mother

A Hopkins man is accused of hitting a 15-year-old boy with a metal pipe Sunday after the boy jumped on top of the man to stop him from pushing his mother.

One Woman Dead in Multiple Car Accident

The accident, which claimed the life of a Brooklyn Park woman, happened at the intersection of County Road 101 and Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove.

Plymouth Man One of 11 Indicted in Heroin Bust

Eleven individuals from across the metro were indicted for conspiring to distribute heroin including William Deante Taylor, 37, of Plymouth.

Dead Body Helps Police Uncover Pot Operation in Edina Home

The Edina Police Department is investigating a massive marijuana-growing operation—including more than 30 plants and numerous grow lamps—inside of an Edina home, after receiving a call of a dead 37-year-old male at the residence earlier this week.

Burglar Hits Apartment Building

A burglar snuck into a Southwest Minneapolis apartment building, taking only an entryway rug.

Man Uses Stolen Check to Buy iPads at Ridgedale Apple Store

Police say a 23-year-old Brooklyn Center man used a blank check from a woman's personal checking account to buy four iPads at the Ridgedale Apple Store.

SLP Police Arrest Habitual Thief for Shoplifting from Kohl's

Police say Wayne Lee Waller was caught on surveillance video on five separate occasions, stealing almost $2,500 worth of merchandise from the store.

County reports 11 car-deer crashes.

Richfield Man Charged With Stealing Hospitalized Relative's Jewelry

Police say Joseph John Litchy stole jewelry from the Lakeville woman while she was in the hospital's intensive care unit, then pawned it.