Deputy Sheriff Josh Boll arrested John White, Roslyn, near Lake City early last week Thursday morning on alcohol violation charges other than driving while intoxicated. White was then released by Deputy Boll. While White was with Boll, Boll noticed another vehicle in the area and he decided to remain near Lake City to observe what was going on since there had been a break-in at Lake City Municipal within the past couple of weeks.

      Boll again observed the vehicle he had seen while writing up papers on the arrest so he drove into Lake City to check there. Driving up to Lake City Municipal, he stepped out of the car, leaving it running and tried both doors to the building and also the door on a nearby utility building. Just as he started to return to the patrol car, he heard a car door slam and then saw his patrol car being driven away. This was about 2 a.m.

      Boll used his portable radio to contact the sheriff's office in Britton and report the theft of his car and request back-up. The dispatcher on duty at the sheriff's office then notified Sheriff Dale Elsen and other deputies including "Butch" Wegleitner who lives at Cottonwood Lake at Lake City. Law enforcement officers from surrounding counties were also notified.

      Officers were reluctant to use car radio equipment because messages sent in that manner could be heard by the individual who had stolen the patrol car. Sheiff Elsen got into contact with state police officials in Pierre who told him that they could stop receipt of radio messages in the stolen patrol car if they had the serial number of the radio in that vehicle. Elsen was able to determine the radio serial number and subsequently that radio was put out of action but not before a radio message had been sent from Tribal Police that they were at the junction of Marshall County 16 and state highway 25 and would remain there to watch for the patrol car. This message was apparently intercepted by the thief of the patrol car who decided to turn off highway 25 and go east just south of Stink Lake.

      Law enforcement officials spent the next few hours searching roads throughout the area for the missing patrol car. Just as it was starting to get light, Mark Steiner, area resident, reported he had seen the patrol car just south of East Stink Lake. Law enforcement officers converged onto that area, found the car and learned it had not been damaged. The patrol car had been driven over a number of holes caused by pocket gophers which resulted in the fuel line on the car becoming inoperable. This is a safety device on patrol cars to help prevent a fire should it be in a collision.

      Later it was learned that a pickup belonging to Mike Dunn, Eden, had been stolen sometime Thursday morning. Still later it was learned that an armed robbery had taken place between Big Stone Lake and Browns Valley Thursday morning. During the robbery a male victim of the robbery was taken as a hostage and ended up being released a couple of miles from his home.