Agenda Packets - 2025/02/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Arson On April 23rd, Officers were called for an active fire in the dumpster/garage area of an apartment complex. Officers arrived and the dumpster and garage was fully engulfed in flames. Police and Fire's quick response was able to extinguish the fire before any further damage was done. Through the investigation, Inv Erickson was able to meet with apartment management and view surveillance footage. It was found that a white male suspect walked to the dumpster area, went behind the dumpster, kneeled down and started a fire. Further camera angles found closer up pictures of the male that Inv Erickson was able to identify the suspect, due to the suspect carrying a bag in his hand with a label on the bag of the location of where he works. Inv Erickson met with the suspect and interviewed him. The suspect admitted to starting the fire and admitted that he was high on drugs when he did it. The county attorney charged the suspect with arson. Vehicle Pursuit and recovered firearms On April 26t" 2024, officers noticed a vehicle leaving a gas station in Mounds View while violating traffic laws. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle which led to a vehicle pursuit. Due to the high speeds and danger of the pursuit, the officer terminated the pursuit. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Minneapolis. The vehicle was towed and upon inventorying the vehicle two assault rifles were found in the vehicle. Investigator Erickson investigated the case and the rifles were swabbed for DNA. Investigator Erickson also obtained surveillance footage from the gas station that the vehicle came from, determining the occupants of the vehicle to be a white male driver and a black male passenger. Inv Erickson contacted the registered owner of the suspect vehicle who stated that he borrowed the vehicle to a friend three days earlier, but the friend had told him the vehicle was stolen. Inv Erickson learned no stolen vehicle report had been made. Inv Erickson completed an E-trace on the rifle serial numbers to determine the owner. Inv Erickson contacted the rifle owners, who stated he did not have the rifles and had given them to a friend to hold onto because he was going through bankruptcy and didn't want them being taken away. That male matches the description of the driver seen on surveillance camera. Further investigation shows an extensive criminal history for the male suspect, and a warrant case where he is involved with a black male suspect where his apartment in Mounds View was raided and over 8000 rounds of firearm ammo was recovered. The 2"d suspect was later found to have relation to the registered owner of the pursuit vehicle and matches the passenger seen on surveillance footage. Inv Erickson later contacted both suspects and interviewed them. Their DNA was obtained through search warrant, and sent to the BCA where it will be compared to DNA obtained from the rifles. Both subjects are convicted felons and will make them ineligible to be in possession of a firearm.