Sheriff alerts Brimson residents to Level 3 offender relocation

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office notified Brimson residents that Level 3 predatory offender Joseph Goerdt, also known as Joe Patch, had relocated to the area near Cedar Bay Campground.

Goerdt, 45, was listed as living homeless in the vicinity of the campground. The public notification included his description as a white male with hazel eyes and naturally brown hair, 175 pounds and 5 feet 7 inches tall. The sheriff’s office issued the alert so people who live in, work in, or travel through the Brimson area would know who was nearby and understand the risk level attached to the case.

Minnesota’s Department of Corrections classifies Level 3 as the highest risk to re-offend, and state law requires public notification when a person at that level moves into a neighborhood. The state also says law enforcement agencies decide what to disclose on a case-by-case basis. In Goerdt’s public registrant record, the offenses tied to his classification include statutes 609.343, 609.255 and 609.344, and the record lists his release date as Sept. 3, 2019.

The same state record says Goerdt has a history of sexual contact with known female children and teens, including penetration, and that force, a position of authority and a victim’s vulnerable state were used in at least one case to gain control. The sheriff’s office said residents with questions could contact Sgt. Eric Sathers, and it urged anyone who sees criminal activity to call 911.

St. Louis County also points residents to its public-offender-records resources, which are meant to help families, schools and neighbors educate themselves about predatory offenders of all levels and situations. For rural parts of the county, where homes and campgrounds can be spread out over long distances, the notice is meant to guide everyday caution around campsites, roadways and seasonal traffic without turning the alert into speculation or alarm.