No hearing in Lakeville on 3 a.m. visit by police

Updated: August 5, 2008 - 11:14 PM

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Despite the possibility of legal action, Lakeville officials say they will not recommend a public hearing to talk about police policy that led officers to enter a resident's home after they found his garage door open.

Troy Molde was awakened in his bedroom at 3 a.m. June 19 by two on-duty Lakeville police officers. They told him he had left his garage and a house door open and keys in the ignition of his truck.

Molde has said he considers the visit a violation of his constitutional rights. He asked the City Council to hold a public discussion of the incident, raising legal action as an option if the council refused.

But after consulting with the city's attorney, Lakeville Administrator Steve Mielke sent Molde a letter last week saying he would not recommend the council hold a public hearing. The police officers' actions were justified under department policy and motivated by concern for the home's occupants, and Molde has not filed a complaint with the police department, Mielke wrote.

SARAH LEMAGIE