Mankato is getting its first ever level 3 Predatory Sex Offender when Gregory Ward moves into the 1700 block of North Riverfront Drive on Monday.

About three dozen residents who live near the address attended a community notification meeting last night.  One question was asked several times by several residents:  Can Ward just walk out his door and into the alley behind his home, at the neighborhood park where children play, or at the nearby Tourtelotte swimming pool?  Officials say "no." 

The conditions of Ward's Intensive Supervised Release restrict Ward from moving freely through the community.  He is only allowed to go to pre-approved locations.

Mankato Director of Public Safety, Todd Miller, told residents that if they see Ward or anyone acting suspiciously to call 911 and let officers look into it. 

Minnesota Department of Corrections Sex Offender Locator

Mankato already has 115 sex offenders, some are not rated with an offender level, others are Level 1 or Level 2.  Ward is the first Level 3 Predatory Offender, the most likely to re-offend of the three level designations

At the community notification meeting Thursday night, one resident pointed to a Minnesota law that bars sex offenders from living in apartments where there is a contract with the county for housing victims of domestic violence, but Mankato police officials say they don't believe that is the case with Ward's new rental, but they will look further into the matter.

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