Along with his general investigative duties with the Owatonna Police Department, Detective Berg also conducts online convert investigations which identify adults seeking minor [NAME REDACTED]. Detective Berg is active in an undercover capacity across several form of social media and applications, including the application "Jaumo" -Casual Dating. On the afternoon of November 18th, 2025, Detective Berg was active on Jaumo, reviewing messages he had received. Detective Berg uses a profile that identifies itself on the application as a 23 year old female in Minnesota.
At approximately 3:23PM, Detective Berg's undercover profile received a private message from the user "Jordan." Detective Berg and Jordan's conversation progressed and at approximately 3:57PM, Detective Berg informed Jordan through the undercover profile on the application that he was younger that his profile says and that he was fifteen years old. Jordan acknowledged detective Berg's age by responding, "you look older that fifteen" and "you just want hookups" and referred to Detective Berg as "jail bait." Jordan asked Detective Berg if he "liked older guys." At approximately 4:27PM, Jordan began to craft a plan in which he would like to pick up Detective Berg from his house and provide him a ride all the was back to Jordan's residence.
Jordan would continue to explain that he may feel Detective Berg up and "finger" him while in the car. Once they arrived at Joradan's house, he planned on "eating me [Detective Berg] out" and wanted to "f***" Detective Berg. Jordan would continue to explain that he would use condoms and would work on getting a "Plan B" pill. All of which he would leave at his residence. On November 20th, 2025, information used within Jordan's profile and the chat were used to identify him as Jordan Edward Patula [DOB REDACTED]. A check of DVS showed that Patula owned one vehicle, a 2014 blue Ford Escape, bearing MN LIC/NVU250. Conversation between Patula and Detective Berg continued through November 21st, 2025. Patula was informed that Detective Berg was staying with his cousin on the West side of Owatonna.
Patula offered/agreed to meet up on the afternoon on November 21st, 2025 and bring Detective Berg back to his residence to have sex. Patula offered to pick up Detective Berg at the Owatonna movie theater. Surveillance teams were put into place on November 21st, 2025 at approximately 11:35AM. At approximately 11:50AM, Detective Ardolf was able to observe MN LIC/NVU250 Eastbound on Bridge Street approaching Allan Avenue in Owatonna, MN, County of Steele. As the vehicle turned, Detective Ardolf was able to identify Patula as the driver.
At this time, Detective Berg was parked in the parking lot of the Park Plaza Apartments. As the vehicle turned into the movie theater entrance, Detective Berg could observed the driver as Patula with no additional passengers in the vehicle. Patula parked the vehicle in the East side of the parking lot, close to the entrance/exit. As Patula parked, Detective Berg observed him with his head down on his phone, at that time Detective Berg received a message on Jaumo from Patula which read "so you'll be able to make noon." 3 74-CR-25-2052 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 11/24/2025 Officer Jimenez entered the parking lot with his marked patrol vehicle emergency lights activated.
