News Release – 1/10/2025
On the afternoon of 01/04/25, Wyatt James Sauve (25) of Red Lake Falls died in a single-vehicle crash in Louisville Township. Mr. Sauve was driving a 2018 Chevy Malibu, eastbound on CR. #13, approximately ½ mile west of its intersection with CR. #9, approximately 6 miles northwest of Red Lake Falls. The vehicle left the roadway, entered the south ditch, and rolled several times. A Red Lake County deputy, the Red Lake Falls Ambulance, the Red Lake Falls Fire Department and Minnesota State Patrol responded to the scene. Mr. Sauve was ejected from the vehicle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle was totally damaged and was towed from the scene. The Minnesota State Patrol is assisting with the crash investigation which remains ongoing.
On the afternoon of 01/05/25, the Red Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle backing into another vehicle that was parked and unoccupied at the Clearwater Apartment’s parking lot in Red Lake Falls. There were no injuries and just minor damage to the vehicles was reported. A crash report was completed by a Red Lake County deputy and copies were given to the owners.
On 01/06/25, a formal criminal complaint was filed, charging Stephanie Michele Nipp (56) of Great Falls, MT with felony theft and felony receiving stolen property. The criminal complaint alleges Ms. Nipp created a fraudulent account, impersonating another business, and swindled the Red Lake County Co-op out of over $570,000. The funds were illegally wired to her bank account in the summer of 2024. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Red Lake County Sheriff’s Office worked together on this investigation. Ms. Nipp was arrested by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, and she is currently incarcerated in Great Falls, MT. Red Lake County is working with Montana authorities to get her back to Minnesota to face these charges.
In the early morning hours of 01/07/25, Red Lake County deputies responded to a report of a disturbance at a Red Lake Falls residence. They discovered that two individuals were having a verbal dispute over the custody of their shared child. It was determined that no crimes had been committed, and they provided assistance with the custody exchange and counseled the parties involved.
On the afternoon of 01/08/25, Janelle Rose Rude (44) of Plummer was arrested in Red Lake Falls for violating the terms of her supervised probation. She was taken to jail in Crookston by a Red Lake County deputy.
On the afternoon of 01/09/25, an individual reported a theft of property from a Red Lake Falls residence. That investigation is ongoing.
In the early morning hours of 01/10/25, an individual reported they had gotten stuck in the ditch, along 150th Ave. in Terrebonne Township. A Red Lake County deputy responded to the scene and found that a box truck, which was pulling a car on a trailer was partially in the ditch. The owner/driver of the vehicle was given a ride to Paradise Falls Motel in Red Lake Falls so they could get a room for the night. He was given instructions to contact a towing company to assist with removing the vehicle later in the day.
During the course of the week several vehicles were ticketed for violating the city of Red Lake Falls’ winter parking ordinance on Main Ave.
Mitch Bernstein, Red Lake County Sheriff: 01/10/25