Bill Hammes of the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety presents Eden Prairie Police Officer Chad Streiff with a hockey stick recognizing his three DWI arrests during a Sept. 5–6 shift. Photo courtesy of the City of Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie police responded to reports of a suspicious person at Staring Lake Park, 14800 Pioneer Trail, on two occasions this year but were unable to locate anyone matching the descriptions provided.
The most recent incident was reported at 12:50 p.m. Oct. 4, according to an Eden Prairie Police Department spokesperson. Officers searched the area but did not locate anyone. The matter was classified as a suspicious incident, and no report was filed.
Police said a similar call came in at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 7, when officers again searched the area but did not find anyone matching the description. That incident was also deemed a suspicious occurrence with no crime to investigate.
Eden Prairie Local News contacted police about these incidents after seeing social media posts expressing concern about encounters at the park.
Police shared the following safety tips for residents walking or running alone:
Keep music low or use only one earbud to stay aware of surroundings.
Carry a fully charged phone (with location services on) and consider a whistle or pepper spray.
Let someone know your route and return time.
If something feels wrong, change direction or leave the area.
Yell or use your safety device to draw attention if threatened.
Call 911 if something feels wrong.