St. Cloud PD Warns of Registry Misinformation

CONCERNS OVER RECENT POSTING

I spoke to Tad Hoeschen from the St. Coud Police Department on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, about some concerns regarding the Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry. In regard to a recent post, that website, FamilyWatchdog.com

, which may have had good intent, did not have completely accurate information.

Tad told me that Minnesota has had a registry for quite some time. There was a St. Cloud case back in the 90s that was the catalyst that created the registry—a murder case where the Predator should have been followed and watched more closely.

Get our free mobile app

ST CLOUD CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM

The St Cloud Crisis Intervention team takes this registry very seriously, and they monitor all of the people who have to register. People also need to know that the registry includes other crimes like stalking, indecent exposure, and not just sex offenders.

PREDATORY LEVELS OF INCARCERATION

In Minnesota, there are four different levels of registry ranking from 'Unlevel' to 'Level 3'. Level 1 offenders are the least likely to re-offend. Level 2 has a moderate level to reoffend, and daycares and schools are automatically notified if they request that information. Overview of persons' offenses, location of where they live, and the circumstances of the crime, as well as how long ago it happened, are all released. There are currently 9 people on Level 3. These are the offenders who are the mostly likely to re-offend, and as we mentioned earlier, their information is public knowledge.

Media release as sent out as soon as possible if someone at this level is released.

Recently, there was a website called www.familywatchdog.com that is put out NOT-so-Accurate information regarding offenders.

ACCURATE INFORMATION

"So we don't want individuals being targeted for something that they didn't do. The criminal justice system is there for a reason, and we want to make sure that there is due process and due diligence," Tad Hoeschen.

Tad informed me that monitoring is done on those listed on the registry when they are released, to make sure they are compliant. If they are not, then SCPD presses charges against them.

BE CAUTIOUS

The main takeaway is this. Not all information that you see on the internet is accurate. Some of the information in this case was correct regarding the Level 3, which is public knowledge. But information on others was NOT."There's enough for us to worry about in this world right now, and there's no need to be worrying about something that isn't true,' said Tad Hoeschen.

How do you make sure you are getting accurate information? You can go to a number of credible sites like:

• Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's website, or the City of St Cloud website under SCPD.
• 'The Jacob Wetterling Resource Foundation', which provides information to families to make sure they are feeling safe.

If you would like to listen to the full interview, click on the PLAY button below.