Level 3 Registered Sex Offender moves to Hibbing

The Hibbing Police Department is notifying the community that a Level 3 Registered Sex Offender has moved to Hibbing. According to authorities, Joe Bernard Patch now lives in the area of 1st Ave and Howard Street.

Patch is decribed as a white man, 5’08” tall and 165 lbs. He has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Hibbing authorities are releasing this information pursuant Minnesota Statute 244.052, to notify the public. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statues 243.166 or 243.167.

Patch has served his sentence and is transitioning into the community.

With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these individuals with the public. Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered individual is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications.