DNA Used to Nab Robbers

All information taken from the Crime Activity Report.

Son Steals From Parent: On March 13, the Hennepin County Attorney charged a 20-year-old Minnetonka man with two counts of felony theft— charges that could mean 15 years in jail and a $30,000 fine. According to court documents, between July and Sept. 2010, the man stole numerous items from his father and stepmother’s home in the 5100 block of Norman Drive in Minnetonka, including diamond earrings valued at more than $5,000. Other items included a cell phone, nail gun, hunting bow, leaf blower, silver coin and GPS unit. Minnetonka Police recovered many of the items at pawnshops in St. Louis Park and in Hopkins. The defendant was seen on surveillance camera pawning the items. The diamond earrings have never been recovered.

Police Catch Robbers with DNA Evidence: On March 13, the Hennepin County Attorney charged a 34-year-old Long Lake woman and a 40-year-old Wazyata man with felony theft in connection with an April 2010 break-in at Heavy Metal Custom Cycles in the 15600 block of Wayzata Boulevard. Court papers allege that the two “pried and punched out” the driver’s side door of a GMC van and stole numerous items from within the vehicle, including a camera, a camera lens, a tripod, a video camera and a laptop. The Hennepin County Crime Lab recovered blood from the door handle of the GMC van and ran a DNA sample through the CODIS Forensic Match system.  That sample matched the 40-year-old male defendant in the case. Then, using the surveillance footage from the scene, investigators concluded the man’s girlfriend was the second suspect in the case. In post-Miranda statements, both admitted their involvement with the theft. If convicted, the charges could mean five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each offender.

Target Employee Walks off with Two iPads: On March 18, the Hennepin County Attorney charged a 19-year-old St. Louis Park man with felony theft after he was observed on security footage stealing two Apple iPads from the stockroom of the Minnetonka Target store near Ridgedale Center.  On Dec. 22, he reportedly walked into the electronics stockroom and put the items in his backpack then left the store without paying for them. Target reports that this man was a former employee of the store. If convicted, the charge could mean five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. This individual has been charged and convicted of theft on two prior occasions since in 2010.

Drug Deal Gone Bad, Knife Used: On March 19, the Hennepin County Attorney charged a 19-year-old Plymouth man with felony second-degree aggravated robbery and also simple robbery in connection with an incident that took place in Minnetonka, late in the evening on March 6. Minnetonka Police responded to an apartment at 12000 Marion Lane West after a robbery was reported.  On the scene, a 19-year-old resident told police that he had been robbed and assaulted by two men who he had let into his apartment late that night. He initially told police that these men had come into the apartment to steal electronics from him, but then recanted that story and admitted to police that the alleged perpetrators had actually come to the apartment to purchase marijuana. He said that while he was preparing the marijuana for purchase, he was hit in the face many times by both of the men. Police notes indicate that the victim had visible injuries and that marijuana was strewn on the kitchen floor of the apartment. The men also threatened to stab the apartment owner with a knife if he refused to hand over the marijuana. The two men took the marijuana and fled the scene. The apartment owner reportedly then grabbed an inoperable BB gun and chased the robbers- observing them hop into a waiting car and flee. The victim in the case knew the owner of the car and through that connection, Minnetonka Police were able to track down the suspects. Both were apprehended at their homes within hours. One of the men, a 19-year-old from Plymouth, has been charged by the Hennepin County Attorney with felony second-degree aggravated robbery. Aggravated robbery involves the use of a deadly weapon or something that appears to be a deadly weapon.  If convicted, the charges could mean 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. In September, this man was charged with underage consumption of liquor. The second alleged robber was also taken into custody at his home in Plymouth. He is a juvenile and as such, court records are not available.

Man Beats Girlfriend's Son: The Hennepin County Attorney has charged a 20-year-old man from Minnetonka with malicious punishment of a child, a gross misdemeanor that, if convicted, can carry up to a year in prison and a $3,000 fine. Court papers allege that the man beat his girlfriend’s 10-year-old son with an electrical cord because the boy received a teacher’s note. The boy reportedly told a social worker about the incident because he and his sister were too afraid to return to their home in Bloomington. Police observed visible bruises on the child.

CRIME ACTIVITY REPORT

March 13

3:04 a.m.: Minnetonka Police arrested five people at a residence in the 2000 block of Gettysburg Avenue. The individuals, from Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Rochester and Shakopee were charged with various crimes including cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing police.

12:00 p.m.: a man, 26, from Plymouth was arrested at Corens Drive and Sunnyview Lane, for fourth degree DWI, a misdemeanor.

8:14 p.m.: a man, 34, from Minneapolis was arrested at Highway 62 and Woodland Road on a miscellaneous warrant. Court records indicate the only previous charge he has faced in Minnesota is for excessive speeding.

11:27 p.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to the after a call came in reporting a suspicious person in the area. No more information is available.

March 14

9:13 a.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to The Glenn Senior Housing by St. Therese after a call came in reporting a theft. No more information is available.

7:38 p.m.: a woman, 54, from Plymouth, was arrested near for fourth-degree DWI, a misdemeanor.

March 15

7:31 a.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to an address in the 17700 block of Old Excelsior Boulevard after a call came in reporting a burglary. Police found that an unknown person had attempted to forcibly enter a business.  No loss was reported.

7:42 p.m.: Minnetonka Police arrested two people, a 19-year-old man from Chaska and an 18-year-old woman from Shorewood, at County Road 101 an Lake Street extension for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

8:23 a.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to an address in the 18800 block of Covington Road after a call came in reporting a missing person. That adult male was subsequently located in another city.  No further action was taken.

9:56 p.m.: a man, 22, was arrested at him home in the 10200 block of West 34th street for domestic assault, a misdemeanor.

March 16

11:56 a.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to a call in the 14800 block of Copperfield Place after a call came in reporting a burglary. On the scene police found that someone had forcibly entered a home and stolen $20. However, $1200 in damage to the home was also reported from the incident.

5:12 p.m.: a man, 23, from Golden Valley, was arrested at Ridgedale Drive and Interstate 394, on four separate charges— a petty marijuana possession charge, a traffic offense for improperly using a child restraint seat, for driving without insurance and for driving after his license had been revoked.

March 17

7:14 a.m.: A car was stolen from the 11800 block of Shady Oak Drive.

3:30 p.m.: Minnetonka Police responded to a report of theft at the Cub Foods store in Westwind Plaza, on Highway 101 in Minnetonka. A woman attempted to steal $50 in merchandise from the store. The items were recovered and the woman was cited by police and released at the scene.

March 18

11:09 p.m.: a woman, 44, was arrested near Ridgedale Center, for third-degree DWI. The charge was aggravated because she had a young child in the car at the time. She was also charged with child endangerment and transported to the Hennepin County Detention Center. Her child was also taken into protective custody.

11:31 p.m.: a man, 29, from Plymouth, was arrested in the 13000 block of Greenwood Road for obstructing police.