Steele County Arrest Records
Steele County arrest records are held and managed by the Steele County Sheriff's Office in Owatonna, Minnesota. The sheriff's office oversees the Steele County Detention Center, handles warrant enforcement, and maintains booking data for people taken into custody in the county. You can look up inmate status by phone or by visiting the sheriff's office. This page covers how to search Steele County arrest records, how to reach the detention center, and what statewide tools are available.
Steele County Overview
Steele County Sheriff's Office
The Steele County Sheriff's Office in Owatonna handles law enforcement across the county. Sheriff Lon Thiele leads the department. The office runs the Steele County Detention Center, which holds people arrested in the county. Deputies handle patrol, warrant service, civil process, and investigations. The dispatch center at 507-451-8232 runs around the clock for non-emergency calls. The main office number is 507-444-3800.
Arrest records in Steele County are generated when someone is booked into the detention center. The sheriff's office maintains those records and can field requests from the public under Minnesota's data practices laws. The office also has a tip line at 1-866-878-7964 that takes anonymous information about crimes and wanted persons. All tips are investigated. You do not need to leave your name, though the office says providing contact information is helpful and kept confidential.
| Sheriff | Lon Thiele |
|---|---|
| Address | 2500 Alexander St. SW Owatonna, MN 55060 |
| Main Phone | 507-444-3800 |
| Non-Emergency Dispatch | 507-451-8232 |
| Fax | 507-444-3894 |
| Anonymous Tip Line | 1-866-878-7964 |
| Website | steelecountymn.gov - Sheriff |
The screenshot below shows the Steele County Sheriff's Office page, which provides contact information and links to detention center and arrest record resources.
The sheriff's page is the starting point for anyone looking for arrest data or inmate information in Steele County.
Steele County Detention Center Inmate Search
The Steele County Detention Center is operated by the sheriff's office. The exterior lobby is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a phone inside that connects to on-duty personnel. This setup means you can reach jail staff at any time, even outside of normal business hours. If you need to check on someone's custody status, calling the main number at 507-444-3800 or visiting the facility will get you an answer.
The detention center page at steelecountymn.gov covers information about the facility. Steele County does not currently post a live online roster, so a phone call or in-person visit is the most direct way to confirm whether someone is in custody. For statewide custody status checks, VINELink is an option that covers the Steele County Detention Center along with facilities across Minnesota.
The screenshot below shows the Steele County Detention Center page, which outlines the facility and how to reach jail staff.
The detention center page is the best local resource for understanding how the Steele County jail operates and who to contact about a person in custody.
Note: Call the sheriff's office at 507-444-3800 to ask about current inmates. The non-emergency dispatch at 507-451-8232 can also connect you to on-duty deputies any time of day.
Active Warrants in Steele County
The Steele County Sheriff's Office tracks and serves active warrants for the county. If you need to know whether a warrant has been issued, call the main office at 507-444-3800. Warrant records are public data under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. The sheriff's staff can confirm whether a warrant is active for a given name.
The Minnesota Court Records Online system also reflects warrant status for cases filed in the 3rd Judicial District, which covers Steele County. If a court has issued a warrant, it often shows in the case docket on MCRO. This can be a useful secondary check when you want to see both the arrest history and whether a warrant is still open. The anonymous tip line at 1-866-878-7964 can also be used to report a person believed to be evading an active warrant.
Requesting Steele County Arrest Records
Arrest records held by the Steele County Sheriff's Office are public data under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. You can ask for the name of an arrested person, the date and place of the arrest, the charges, and in most cases the booking photo. The office must respond to these requests. Some records may be restricted if they involve juvenile offenders or sealed cases.
To get a copy of an arrest record, visit the sheriff's office at 2500 Alexander St. SW in Owatonna or call 507-444-3800. You can also put your request in writing. Include the subject's name, the approximate date of the arrest if you know it, and what type of record you need. Provide your own name and a way to reach you. The office will either send the records or explain in writing what it cannot release and why.
Copy fees are set by county policy and follow the state's data practices standards under Minn. Stat. § 13.03. Viewing records in person at the office does not usually carry a charge. Physical copies typically cost per page. For court-level case records, use the Steele County main website or Minnesota Court Records Online to find case numbers and docket entries before making a more specific request.
Minnesota Statewide Arrest Resources
Several state-level databases carry arrest and criminal history data that covers Steele County and the rest of Minnesota. These tools are useful when you need more than what the county jail records show.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains the state's public criminal history system. You can search it by name to see arrest records, charges, and case dispositions from courts across the state. The BCA also processes certified background check requests for employers, landlords, and licensing agencies.
Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us gives free access to case-level data from the 3rd Judicial District, which includes Steele County. You can search by name or case number. VINELink tracks custody status at the Steele County Detention Center and facilities across the state. The Minnesota Department of Corrections public viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us covers state prison inmates.
The screenshot below shows the Steele County main website, which links to the sheriff, detention center, and other county departments.
The county website at steelecountymn.gov is a good hub for finding the right department when you need arrest or custody information in Steele County.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Steele County in southern Minnesota. Each has its own sheriff and detention facility. Check the right county if the arrest you are researching happened near a county line.