Scams are rampant; here s what to watch for (7/30/2021)
The customer arrived with a soft envelope that had to get to its destination the next day. It would cost over $100 to ship. Julie Pendleton’s heart rate quickened. Pendleton, the owner of La Boutique, suspected the customer might be a target of a scam she has intercepted all too often lately: older people being told a grandchild is in jail or was in an accident and needs money sent as soon as possible. At Pendleton’s suggestion, the customer called their daughter and learned their granddaughter was just fine, thankfully. Pendleton then returned the customer’s envelope containing $6,000.
(6/2/2021)
Winona Police Department (WPD) officers arrested Robert James Cerney, 41, of Winona, Sunday morning after an overnight standoff in which Cerney barricaded himself in a house, and set it on fire. Officers initially responded to a report of a domestic assault involving Cerney allegedly holding someone against their will.
Officers referred Cerney to the county attorney for potential charges of first-degree arson, false imprisonment, terroristic threats, domestic assault by strangulation, domestic assault causing fear and harm, domestic abuse no contact order violation, assault of a peace officer and assault of a public safety dog.
According to Deputy Chief Eric Engrav, Cerney allegedly held someone against their will at a residence on the 650 block of East Seventh Street for several hours. The victim has a domestic abuse no contact order against Cerney. The victim was able to contact law enforcement personnel and report the situation. Officers responde