Northfield man injured in truck-bike accident in Faribault; Northfield police warn of more electronic scams; Most candidate registration periods begin May 21st

A Northfield man is in stable condition after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle at an intersection in Faribault this weekend.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. Sunday evening, Faribault police reported that they were dispatched to an injured car and bicyclist accident at the intersection of Western Avenue and Highway 60 after several callers reported the accident and said the bicyclist was unconscious been.

Faribault Police Chief John Sherwin said in a statement that upon arrival, officers went to the cyclist, identified as Daniel Ryan Torkelson, 52, of Northfield. Torkelson regained consciousness at the scene but suffered serious injuries.

The statement said the Faribault Fire Department and North Ambulance Service also responded and assisted with medical care.

Due to the severity of his injuries, Torkelson was transported by North Ambulance to Faribault Airport, where he was flown by helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Although Torkelson suffered significant injuries, the report said his injuries were described as non-life-threatening after he was stabilized at the hospital.

Torkelson was struck by a pickup truck traveling westbound on Highway 60 driven by Sean Ray Schulz, 37, of Warsaw, Minnesota. Schulz and several witnesses said he was traveling westbound on Highway 60 and entered the intersection with a green light.

Sherwin said no subpoenas were issued based on witness statements and evidence at the scene.

Elliott advises caution about strange phone calls and emails

The Northfield Police Department is again warning of an increase in electronic scams targeting people within the Northfield community.

A statement issued by the city said Northfield PD has been fielding increasing reports of fraudulent activity against individuals through phone calls, unsolicited emails and suspicious website notifications.

Fraudsters, the statement said, attempt to trick innocent people into disclosing their personal information or making fraudulent payments using unconventional methods. After making contact and gaining trust, fraudsters use remote access software that gives them full access to the victim’s digital devices as if they were sitting at the computer. They then use the victim’s computer passwords to access online banking information and steal their money.

Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott said those who receive strange calls or unusual requests should listen to their instincts and double-check anything that doesn’t seem right.

“We just really encourage people to think about it and ask themselves, ‘Is this outside the norm?’ And definitely give us a call. We would be happy to take this call and accompany you through this process. And we can use some of our tools to verify some of this information and perhaps help you by making a call back on your behalf to whoever is trying to convince you to do these things.”

Additionally, Elliott said, legitimate and reputable companies would never ask for payment in the form of gift cards like Apple iTunes or Google Play cards or digital currency like Bitcoin.

The statement listed some basic rules to follow if a phone call appears suspicious:

• Hang up and don’t answer if someone calls back.
• Never give someone you don’t know access to your smartphone, iPad or computer.
• Never pass on online banking details or passwords to third parties.
• Never download applications to your computer or phone unless you are sure of the identity of the agent on the phone.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of fraud should contact their financial institution and the Northfield Police Department for assistance.

The filing period for cities, states and federal agencies begins May 21, and the school board begins July 30

The filing period for candidates for city, county, state and federal offices on the November ballot opens later this month.

Candidates for Northfield City Clerk can register with the Northfield City Clerk beginning Tuesday, May 21st from 7:30 a.m. to June 4th at 5:00 p.m. Registration for district, state and federal offices begins May 21st at 8 a.m. and ends June 4th at 5 p.m.

Candidates for federal office must apply at the Secretary of State’s Office in the State Veterans Services Building in St. Paul. Registration for state office can be done at the Secretary of State’s Office or with the Director of Property Tax and Elections in the Elections Department at the Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault.

Applicants may submit their application in person or by mail, provided the application is received within the submission deadline. Candidates who are out of state during the filing period but meet all other legal requirements may initiate filing in the week immediately preceding the candidate’s absence.

The presidential election candidate filing period for candidates from minor political parties and independent candidates begins May 21 at 8 a.m. and ends August 20 at 5 p.m. The certification deadline for major political parties’ presidential candidates is August 27.

Registration offices will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. June 19th, Wednesday, June 19th and Independence Day, Thursday, July 4th.

The application period for Northfield School Board candidates begins July 30 at 8 a.m. and runs through August 13 at 5 p.m. Candidates must submit their application to the Northfield School District Clerk at the Northfield School District Offices.

Northfield Mayor and Northfield City Council seats in Districts 2 and 3 and the At-Large seat will be voted on in November. The county commissioner of the 2nd Rice County district, which includes Northfield, will take part in the vote.

KYMN Daily News 5/8/24

Rich Larson is the KYMN news director. Contact him at [email protected]