Anoka County Arrest Records

In Anoka County, the Sheriff’s Office or police departments may lawfully arrest anyone who behaves in a manner that raises suspicion and will cause any reasonable person to believe that they are committing, have committed, or may commit a crime. However, an arrest does not necessarily mean the person is guilty; only the courts can determine guilt. When they do, convicted individuals typically serve time in the Anoka County jail.

Consequently, Anoka County court records maintain information on these cases, including those that did not result in a conviction. Additionally, every institution involved in the individual’s incarceration, ranging from the relevant law enforcement agency to the County jail, maintains records of its role in the process. These various records form part of Anoka’s public records, showing the changes in the status of the individual as they progress through the justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Anoka County?

According to the Freedom of Information Act, Anoka County arrest records are public records. Therefore, anyone can approach law enforcement to request documented information on an arrest. However, some records are restricted from public access. Interested individuals may need to meet certain qualifications if they wish to access them. These records include sealed juvenile records and court orders sealing some criminal charges. Nevertheless, individuals may still be able to access them if they can demonstrate a legitimate right to the records, provide the reason for the request, and show a valid identification document.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain:

• Mugshots
• Arrest details, including charges filed, date and location of the arrest, and booking details
• Information on the current status of the case, including court dates and outcome.
• Personal information such as the name, date of birth, and physical description of the individual.

Anoka County Arrest Statistics

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office provides arrest statistics for cities within Anoka, including Andover, Nowthen, Bethel, Columbus, East Bethel, Ham Lake, Linwood Township, and Oak Grove. For instance, between January to July 2024, 145 misdemeanor arrests and 31 felony arrests were made in Andover. Traffic arrests were calculated at 668, plus 27 warrant arrests within the same period. Also, seven individuals were arrested for drug-related offenses.

In Bethel, arrest numbers were relatively low: only one misdemeanor and one felony arrest were made, in addition to 3 traffic arrests and one warrant arrest. No drug-related arrest occurred.

In Columbus City, the Sheriff’s Office arrested 29 and 11 individuals for misdemeanor and felony-related offenses. Four drug arrests, 15 warrant arrests, and 102 traffic arrests were also made. In East Bethel, the Sheriff’s Office arrested 73 individuals for misdemeanors, 25 individuals for felonies, 215 for traffic violations, 6 for drugs, and 32 were warrant-based. In Ham Lake, the Sheriff’s Office recorded 42 arrests for misdemeanors, 21 arrests for felonies, 525 arrests for traffic violations, 29 based on warrants, and 10 arrests made for drug-related offenses.

The Sheriff’s Office made several arrests in Linwood as well. Seven persons were arrested for misdemeanors, one person for felony, 47 for traffic violations, and four warrant-based arrests. No arrest was made for drugs. To access information on arrests made by the Sheriff’s Office in other cities in the County, record seekers may visit the Anoka County website. However, remember that local police departments also maintain information on their arrests.

Find Anoka County Arrest Records

If you wish to look up inmates in the county jail and workhouse, knowing where to look can make your search a lot easier. The Anoka County Jail inmate locator tool can help you view persons currently in custody or recently released from custody. You typically have to enter the inmate's first and last name or ID numbers in the search area to facilitate a search. Alternatively, you can fill out the data request form and send it via mail to:

Anoka County Jail

325 Jackson Street
Anoka, MN 55303

To fill out the form appropriately, fill in your name, email address, physical address, request date, and phone number. Furthermore, you must describe the data being requested with sufficient specificity.

The Department of Corrections incarcerated individuals and the search locator also provides access to records of inmates in state custody. Once logged in, you typically have to enter their names or ID number and press “search”. The search result includes all names associated with the individual’s criminal conviction.

In addition, the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmates Locator tool offers convenience to individuals who wish to find records of inmates incarcerated in federal custody. Interested individuals need to provide sufficient information that identifies the case they wish to find. This information includes the first and last names of the inmates and other relevant information that may be required.

Free Arrest Record Search in Anoka County

In Anoka County, certain resources can help record seekers locate specific arrest records without stress. You can request non-jail data from the Anoka County Sheriff's Office by sending a completed request form through email, via mail, or in person at:

Anoka County Sheriff's Office,

13301 Hanson Boulevard
NW, Andover, MN 55304

Additionally, the Sheriff's Office distributes information about crimes reported to the patrol team and details on arrests made, usually on Fridays. The incidents usually reported include property damage, vandalism, theft, and burglary. If you wish to start receiving these emails as well, you can sign up by sending your name, city of residence, and email address to crime.prevention@anokacountymn.gov.

Anoka County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is usually created when a law enforcement agency takes an individual into custody for suspicion of criminal behavior. However, it is important to note that an arrest does not imply guilt; arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Consequently, law enforcement agencies may take more serious offenses to trial. In these cases, a record of the arrest may contain information from the time of arrest up to the court trial.

In contrast, criminal records are more comprehensive and generally document an individual’s series of contacts with the justice system. This system includes various agencies such as the Sheriff’s Office, local police departments, the courts, and the county jail. Thus, a criminal record reveals if an individual has ever been arrested, if they were convicted, and whether they served time or received other forms of punishment.

Additionally, unlike an arrest record, which often relates to just one incident, a criminal record provides information on the number of times an individual has been arrested and how the cases were ultimately resolved.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless there is an expungement, an arrest and/or a conviction will remain on record forever. Once expunged, a record will no longer be available to the general public.

Expunge Anoka County Arrest Records

Expungement is the act of going to court to ask a judge to destroy a record. However, per Minn. Stat. ch. 609A, expungement of Anoka County criminal records, including arrest records, is limited to sealing of records and prohibiting disclosure of their existence except under court order or statutory authority.

You may qualify for an expungement under Minnesota statute ch. 609a if:

• The charges were dismissed, or you were found not guilty.
• You were convicted of a crime that qualifies for expungement, and the required amount of time has passed.
• You were charged with a controlled substance offense - the proceedings have been dismissed and discharged.
• You were a juvenile prosecuted as an adult.
• The Board of Pardons has granted you an extraordinary pardon.

Nevertheless, if the prosecutor did not file formal charges or the case went to trial but no conviction occurred, and you have not been convicted of any felony or gross misdemeanor in any state for the preceding 10 years, a petition to the court is not necessary to expunge your arrest record. You should contact the arresting agency and/or the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Here’s a brief overview of the process for expungement:

• Fill out a separate petition and order for each case you want expunged
• Make copies of the completed forms you will need for service on each agency and their attorneys
• Ensure that the service was done properly by mailing a copy of all required documents and filling out the Proof of Service. You can do this yourself, or it can be done for you by your appointed server.
• File the paperwork with the District Court
• Agency opportunity to object
• The court hearing

Anoka County Arrest Warrants

In Anoka County, an arrest warrant is a document issued by a district court judge ordering the immediate apprehension of the individual named in the document. A warrant is usually issued to authorize the arrest of an individual whom a law enforcement agency suspects is responsible for a crime that was committed outside their immediate observation.

For an arrest warrant to be issued in Anoka, the Sheriff's Office or a local police department typically approaches a district court judge to present evidence that shows a high probability of guilt. If the judge is satisfied based on the evidence presented that the chances that the suspect is guilty far outweigh the chances that they are not, a warrant is issued ordering the arrest of the suspect. The warrant usually contains this information:

• The name of the person to be arrested
• The name of the arresting agency
• The description of the crime
• The signature of the judge

Do Anoka County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest Warrants typically remain active indefinitely until the person named by the warrant is arrested or the court has a legal justification to quash the warrant.