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A man claiming to be lost for four days called Ryden’s Border Store in Grand Portage to say he was lost but he wouldn’t give them his phone number. He said his name was John Paul and he planned to keep following his compass North and he was going to start a campfire once the call ended.
The caller said he didn’t want law enforcement involved in the search, but he would prefer a local party look for him.
At this point it seemed like it might be a crank call. Nevertheless, the Border Patrol and Cook County Sheriff ’s Office were notified, and a staging area was established at Rydens.
Cook County Law Enforcement dispatch contacted the Forest Service to see if there was a beaver (firefighting plane) in the air, but none was scheduled for the day. Next dispatch notified the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources to see if they had a plane in the air or a drone available to help in the search. While there were no current flights the Ministry said a drone request could be made but it would take several hours after the call-out for the drone to be ready.
Shortly after the last call for an air search, rescuers found the male party. The Ontario MNR Duty officer was called and told the man had been found and no help would be needed from Thunder Bay, but the Duty officer was thanked for the willingness to assist.
John Paul (if that was his name) was transported to Grand Marais to the Cook County Jail.
When asked why the lost man had been taken to jail Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen said, “Currently, we are not sure what his real name is, he refuses to properly identify himself. He was taken to jail after he was located because he refused to identify himself and gave a peace officer a false name. I am copying the statute for your reference.
09.506 PROHIBITING GIVING PEACE OFFICER FALSE NAME. Subdivision 1. Misdemeanor. Whoever with intent to obstruct justice gives a fictitious name other than a nickname, or gives a false date of birth, or false or fraudulently altered identification card to a peace officer, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), when that officer makes inquiries incident to a lawful investigatory stop or lawful arrest, or inquiries incident to executing any other duty imposed by law, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 2.Name of another; gross misdemeanor. Whoever with intent to obstruct justice gives the name and date of birth of another person to a peace officer, as defined in subdivision 1, when the officer makes inquiries incident to a lawful investigatory stop or lawful arrest, or inquiries incident to executing any other duty imposed by law, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. §Subd. 3.Fictitious name; gross misdemeanor. Whoever in any criminal proceeding with intent to obstruct justice gives a fictitious name, other than a nickname, or gives a false date of birth to a court official is guilty of a misdemeanor. Whoever in any criminal proceeding with intent to obstruct justice gives the name and date of birth of another person to a court official is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. “Court official” includes a judge, referee, court administrator, or any employee of the court.
When more is learned we will do a follow up on this ongoing story.
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