(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following has been compiled by Editor Gary W. Meyer, with releases from the county sheriff’s office.)

Some people do bad things to their neighbors with their thoughtlessness.

Others try to make up for those disruptions with very good deeds of their own.

Such is the case with Jeff and Laura Jones, owners of Sand Dunes Auto Repair in Orrock.

They have put out the word that motorists who suffered damage to their tires from screws thrown on the road around Big Lake and Sherburne County can have those tires fixed - for free.

Laura Jones told the Tribune Wednesday their offer was made in the early part of the week and they have been fielding lots of inquiries for help.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls. As of today (Wednesday) we had done about 20 tires.

“We’re scheduling them at about five a day, so people have to call for a scheduling.”

And - that number for their shop is 763-262-2493. Deadline for calling is Sept. 6.

“There were a lot of other volunteers who helped pick up screws on the road,” she said. “This was something we could do.”

The Joneses have been in business in Orrock for the past 12 years; two and a half years at their new shop on Co. Rd. 5.

The Arrest

An Elk River man was arrested Monday morning after admitting to throwing dozens of screws on Sherburne County roads during the last two months.

Jeffrey Scot Caouette, 63, is jailed awaiting formal charges and a first court appearance. He was arrested after a caller reported seeing a vehicle near Zimmerman Terrace Park that matched the description of a vehicle Big Lake police had identified as being involved in the numerous incidents.

He was charged Wednesday with two counts of criminal damage to property and ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bail without conditions of $2,000 bail with conditions that include him not going to the areas where he said he had previously thrown screws.

He would also have to wear a GPS monitoring device.

Big Lake police posted a photo of a grey Jeep SUV and asked for the public’s help in locating the vehicle. A caller at 8:06 a.m. Monday reported seeing a vehicle matching that description near the Zimmerman trailer park, which had been the site of numerous reports of screws on the roadway.

The caller reported that the vehicle had made a couple trips through the park and the activity appeared suspicious. A Sherburne County deputy stopped the vehicle at Fremont Avenue and 10th Street in Zimmerman just minutes after the caller reported the sighting, according to Brott.

Caouette admitted having screws in his vehicle and produced a five-pound box of screws. During questioning he admitted to throwing screws on various roadways numerous times.

Big Lake police have as many as 200 reports of tires being damaged by screws or of screws being found on the roads in the last two months, according to Police Chief Joel Scharf. Sherburne County has received dozens of similar calls.

Investigators are following up on all of those reports and trying to determine a motive for Caouette’s actions, Brott said. Because of the complexity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time.

Additional information could come in any criminal complaints that are filed.

Sheriff Joel Brott asks anyone who has tire damage they suspect is related to these incidents can call their non-emergency number at 763-765-3500 and file a report.