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2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
SUBJECT: High-Risk Predatory Offender Notification
BY: Mattie Hjelseth, Duluth Police Department Public Information Officer
NATURE OF INCIDENT: High-Risk Predatory Offender Notification
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE:
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION:
RISK LEVEL THREE
In addition to level two notification, law enforcement may notify other members of the community whom the registrant is likely to encounter.
The Duluth Police Department is available to provide you with useful information on personal safety. The Duluth Police Department may be reached at 218-730-5400. To report criminal activity by this registrant or any other individual, please call 911.
NAME: Westley Gordon Vandell
DOB: 11/08/1970
OID: 209806
Race: White
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 162 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Registration Statute(s): 617.246; 609.344; 609.344, 609.344; 609.344; 609.344; 609.344 (charge)
Investigating Agency: Duluth Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff's Office
Release Date: 07/02/2020
Supervision Agent: Matt Shere 218-733-2850
Offense: Westley Vandell has a history of engaging in sexual contact and conduct with female teenagers. Contact included penetration. Conduct included video recording the offenses. On many occasions, Vandell provided teenagers with alcohol prior to offenses.
Address: 700 block of North Boundary Avenue, Duluth, MN 55810
Date of Address Change: 11/08/2021
The Duluth Police Department is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052 and 253D. These statutes authorize law enforcement agencies to inform communities of a public registrant’s release from prison or a secure treatment facility when the Duluth Police Department believes that the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.
The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 243.166 or 243.167.
This individual has served the sentence imposed on them by the court and is transitioning into the community. This notification is not intended to increase fear but rather raise awareness. Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public.
The Duluth Police Department may not direct where this individual does or does not reside, nor can this agency direct where they work or go to school.
Those convicted of sexual and predatory offenses have always been released to live in our communities. It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had an ability to track movement of these individuals after their initial release. With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these individuals with the public. Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered person is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications.
