An Austin Police Department officer received a "bizarre" call Tuesday.

That's how Police Chief Paul M. Philipp described the report of two dogs attacking a deer in the wood behind Ellis Middle School.

Austin police received the call from a citizen Tuesday. When the officer investigated he found two bloodied dogs and a wounded deer in the 2000 block area of Seventh Avenue SE.

The officer killed the deer with his sidearm and followed the dogs. When the canines went directly to a residence at 2117 Third Ave. NE, the officer confronted the owner.

The city's animal control officer impounded the dogs.

The owner was issued a citation for allowing the animals to run loose and a potentially dangerous animal certificate.

The latter is the first step in having the dogs officially declared dangerous animals under Minnesota law, Philipp said.

Threat investigated

Austin police were called to Oak Park Mall Tuesday morning.

The shopping center's manager reported the mall received a telephone call announcing a bomb was in the facility.

The caller was identified as an adult male, speaking in a raspy voice, according to the Austin Police Department report.

Only three businesses were open at the time. The business owners/employees and mall maintenance personnel were asked to search the facility, but nothing was found.

Because the call was received before the shopping center officially opened only a minimum of people needed to be evacuated.

When no device was found, Austin police allowed all persons to reenter the shopping center.

Police to participate in vigil

Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp will participate in his 20th consecutive Minnesota police officers memorial vigil this week.

Philipp and one other police official will both mark two decades of showing their respect for fallen officers at the memorial in St. Paul.

Also participating as a member of the honor guards unit at the memorial is Austin police officer James Lamecker.

The Austin Police Department and Mower County Sheriff's Office have their own peace officers memorial outside the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center.

No local observance of local officers and others killed in action is planned this year.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com