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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:
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE:
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION:
High Risk Predatory Offender Notification
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
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 and St. Louis County Sheriff's Office
Release Date: 11/07/2023
Supervision Agent: Kellie Hagen (218) 730-4573
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 N Boundary Ave, Duluth, MN 55810
Date of Address Change: 11/07/2023
The Duluth Police Department is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052 and 253D. These statutes authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public 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 he/she works or goes to school.
Those convicted of sexual or 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 individual 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.
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