Duluth police warn of high-risk offender moving near West 1st Street

Duluth police warned residents that 41-year-old Joseph Terrance Brown, a High Risk Level 3 predatory offender, was released from custody Tuesday and will live in the area of West 1st Street and Mesaba Avenue. The notice identifies the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office as the investigating agency. Brown was convicted of an offense that requires sex-offender registration.

The underlying conduct involved sexual contact with a teenage female he knew, including sexual touching and penetration. The release notice also gives Brown’s physical description, including brown eyes and brown hair.

Level 3 is the highest risk category, and local law enforcement must notify the neighborhood when someone in that category moves in. Under state law, an end-of-confinement review committee assesses the public risk posed by offenders before release, and Minnesota statute 244.052 requires law enforcement to disclose information that is relevant and necessary to public safety. The state’s Community Notification Act took effect on Jan. 1, 1997, and the DOC assigns the risk level while police handle the public notice.

Duluth has used that process repeatedly this year. The city’s release archive includes multiple high-risk predatory offender notices in 2025 and 2026, including another posted May 28. The point of the notices is to raise awareness, not fear, and the department cannot direct where a registrant lives, works or goes to school.

Duluth police list questions through the department at 218-730-5400, with headquarters at 2030 North Arlington Avenue. Anyone who sees criminal activity should call 911 immediately.