Burnsville News & Community Coverage

Burnsville Police and Fire have released new details after a mental health crisis on Maple Island Road escalated into a fatal house fire. The BCA and State Fire Marshal are now leading the investigation.

Two Burnsville parents are facing multiple felony charges after Dakota County prosecutors alleged a young child endured repeated abuse over a period of more than two years before a welfare check led to a criminal investigation.

The Burnsville Police Department has issued a community notification regarding the relocation of a Level 3 predatory offender to Burnsville.

Burnsville Police are investigating after shell casings were found in the northernmost parking lot of Lac Lavon Park on Sunday morning. Police say no shooting was reported, and no injuries or witnesses are known.

A wrong-way driver caused a two-vehicle crash near County Road 42 and Portland Avenue in Burnsville on July 2, 2026. One person was hospitalized in stable condition, while another suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve was temporarily closed on Friday after an abandoned vehicle linked to a Dakota County pursuit was found. Authorities say there is no ongoing threat.

The City of Apple Valley is continuing restoration efforts at Alimagnet Park with targeted herbicide treatments as part of a $262,009 DNR-funded project to remove invasive buckthorn, restore native habitat, and improve biodiversity in the park through 2027.

Burnsville Police say one person suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and another was taken into custody after a reported theft from a vehicle led to a physical altercation Saturday afternoon near Burnsville Parkway and I-35W.

A suspect was arrested Tuesday morning in Burnsville on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct involving a weapon. Police secured the weapon and spent several hours processing a scene near Xerxes Avenue South and 135th Street West.

A reported bomb threat prompted a large police response in Burnsville Friday evening, temporarily closing U.S. Bank and nearby businesses along County Road 42. Authorities searched the area, found no suspicious devices, and continue to investigate.

The Dakota County Drug Task Force is warning residents after 23 suspected overdoses and two suspected fatal overdoses were reported between May 29 and June 2. Officials believe fentanyl may be present in the local drug supply and are urging residents to carry Narcan and recognize overdose warning signs.

Hounds Town USA will celebrate the grand opening of its first Minnesota location in Burnsville on June 2, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, pet photos, giveaways, refreshments, and activities for local dog owners and their pets.

A black bear was spotted near Highway 13 and Interstate 35W in Burnsville, Minnesota, prompting multiple sightings from residents. The Minnesota DNR says the bear is likely a young male traveling through the south metro as part of seasonal dispersal and breeding activity. Learn why bears are appearing in Twin Cities communities and what to do if you encounter one.

Authorities have closed both Terrace Oaks West Park and Terrace Oaks East Park in Burnsville on Wednesday morning as law enforcement and emergency responders conduct a large-scale search for a missing person.

The Burnsville City Council formally recognized retiring Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz during a council meeting Tuesday night, honoring her more than three decades of service to the community and presenting her with the Key to the City ahead of her retirement later this month.

A Burnsville woman has been sentenced in connection with the 2024 shooting death of a Minneapolis man after entering what is known as an Alford plea earlier this year.

The Burnsville City Council has approved a new pilot collaboration between the city’s Behavioral Health Unit and University of Minnesota Physicians to improve mental health crisis response and long-term care navigation for residents experiencing behavioral health emergencies.

The Burnsville Police Department has issued a community notification regarding the recent relocation of a Level 3 predatory offender to the city, in accordance with Minnesota law requiring public notification for individuals assessed as the highest risk of reoffending.

Officials in Dakota County and Scott County have officially broken ground on a major new regional recycling and household hazardous waste facility, known as Recycling Zone Plus, aimed at improving access, capacity, and sustainability services across the south metro.

Residents and the general public near Crystal Lake may notice an increased presence of emergency vehicles, boats, and first responders over the next two days, but officials say there is no cause for concern.

A major road construction project is set to impact one of the Twin Cities metro’s busiest north-south corridors, as MnDOT prepares to begin work on Highway 77 beginning in July 2026 and is projected to be ongoing through November 2028.

A Burnsville man is facing a felony fugitive charge in Dakota County after authorities confirmed he is wanted in Oklahoma on serious drug trafficking allegations, with court records showing a multi-year case involving arrest, release, and a second arrest across state lines.

Motorists traveling through the south metro should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this weekend as the Interstate 35W (I-35W) will be fully closed in both directions between Interstate 494 and the I-35/I-35E/I-35W split beginning Friday night.

A 19-year-old St. Paul man is now facing multiple felony charges following a chaotic sequence of events that began just after his reported release from custody and ended with a high-speed, multi-agency pursuit across Dakota County.

Federal agents executed search warrants at multiple childcare and daycare facilities across the Twin Cities early Tuesday morning as part of a large-scale fraud investigation involving alleged misuse of taxpayer-funded programs.

A 29-year-old man from Burnsville was killed Tuesday night following a motorcycle crash along I-35E.

A Burnsville man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he was caught stealing packages and mail from an apartment building earlier this week.

A 23-year-old Minneapolis woman is facing a felony charge in Dakota County after authorities say she assisted in a burglary inside a private apartment garage in Burnsville, while also being linked to a broader pattern of property crimes across the Twin Cities metro.

A barricaded suspect was taken into custody Sunday night following an hours-long police incident at an apartment complex in Burnsville that began as an assault on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Stone Grove Apartments in the 2500 block of Williams Drive.

Law enforcement officers from across Minnesota and western Wisconsin will gather this weekend for a day of competition, remembrance, and community support at the 14th Annual “Ballin’ in Dakota County” Charity Basketball Tournament.