PUBLIC SAFETY

Sex offender pleads guilty in college attack

A registered sex offender pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct Friday for an attack on a St. Catherine's University student last fall.

Louis Richard Oliver, 47, of Hastings admitted to the crime in Hennepin County District Court. He is expected to receive more than 21 years in prison as part of the plea agreement, according to the county attorney's office. Sentencing is scheduled for May 16.

The victim was walking to a St. Catherine's building near Riverside Park in Minneapolis on Nov. 19 when Oliver approached her, demanded money and grabbed her by the arm and took her to a wooded area, claiming he had a gun. Oliver is a Level II sex offender. Level III is legally considered the most likely to reoffend. The attack shook students at the school for women. Dozens of community impact statements were submitted to Judge Tamara Garcia for sentencing.

ABBY SIMONS

Farmington woman charged in bank theft

A 31-year-old Farmington woman swindled $95,000 from the bank where she used to work, according to charges filed Friday in Dakota County District Court. Leah M. Bremner, former lead teller supervisor at a bank in Lakeville, is charged with felony theft by swindle. She was released on bail and will make a court appearance July 22.

The criminal complaint said the thefts occurred between May and October 2010. When a bank official confronted Bremner about discrepancies in her paperwork, she admitted stealing the money. She said her husband had recently lost his job and they were having financial problems. She initially said she took $86,000, but an audit showed that $95,000 was missing.

Pat Pheifer

Roseville police dog Major put down

Two and a half years after being repeatedly stabbed by a criminal, a Roseville police dog has been put down.

Major, officer John Jorgensen's 11-year-old canine partner, was euthanized this week at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center.

The German shepherd survived battles with criminals on land and water, almost drowning once while chasing a suspect into a lake, said Roseville Lt. Lorne Rosand. In November 2010, Major suffered a collapsed lung, damage to his spinal cord and other injuries when he was repeatedly stabbed by a suspect. He underwent several surgeries and ultimately lost the use of his hind legs.

In line with department policy, Jorgensen purchased Major from the department for $1 after it was determined he would not recover fully from his injuries. After retirement, Major spent the rest of his days with Jorgensen. Major was awarded the Medal of Valor from the North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale in November 2011.

Andrew Krammer

Charges: Burnsville man had meth, guns

A Burnsville man was jailed after a drug bust netted 12 pounds of meth, three guns and more than $16,000 in cash on Wednesday.

Albert Morris Johnson, who operates a barbershop on Cliff Road in Burnsville, was charged Friday with first-degree drug sales and possession, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with an altered or removed serial number. All the crimes are felonies.

Agents from the Dakota County Drug Task Force raided a townhouse on River Woods Lane shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday. They found 24 bags of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $400,000, according to the charges.

Johnson and a woman at the home were handcuffed while investigators searched the home. A teenager and a 1-year-old child were also there.

Pat Pheifer