Breaking News: Claremont burglary ends in arrests

A burglary at a service station in Claremont has resulted in the arrests of two Owatonna men and the hospitalization of a Waseca woman.
 
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary-in-progress at the Claremont Service Station around 9:30 p.m. Thursday. A caller reported hearing a crash at the center and saw a vehicle leaving the scene. Deputies later discovered the front glass door had been busted out.
 
A deputy stopped the suspect vehicle on Hwy. 14 by 120th Avenue a short time later. Deputies arrested Justin Mertins, 44, and Darrel Persell, 22, both of Owatonna. They are being held in the Steele County Detention Center. 
 
During the stop, Emilie Perkins, 25, of Waseca, became unresponsive due to an apparent drug overdose, according to Sheriff Scott Rose. She was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester where she remains. Rose said she will be taken into custody once she is released from the hospital.
 
Rose said deputies discovered 70 packs of unopened cigarette packs and drug paraphernalia with substances consistent with both methamphetamine and heroin in the vehicle. The cigarettes were allegedly taken during the burglary.
 
Both men are expected to face a variety of charges, including burglary, criminal damage to property and possession of burglary tools, Rose said.
 
The DCI and Times will have more on this story in next week’s print edition.