TWO SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY ON SEVERAL BURGLARIES

On July 27, 2014 two suspects were arrested by Red Lake Tribal Police who were assisting Beltrami and Koochiching County Deputies with burglary investigations which had occurred during the past month in northern Beltrami and in Koochichiing Counties. The burglaries were all similar in nature and investigators and deputies identified the suspects as BRANDON GEORGE HOWARD age 34, of Redby, Mn and HOLLY BETH JOHNSON age 30, of Redwood Falls, MN.

Beltrami Deputies contacted Red Lake Tribal Police when it was learned the suspects may be on the Red Lake Reservation in a vehicle which had been stolen during one of the burglaries in Roosevelt Township earlier in July. Red Lake Officers located the suspects and arrested them. Follow-up investigation by Beltrami County Sheriff’s Investigators and a Red Lake Police Investigator lead to the recovery of many of the items stolen in the burglaries.

Both Howard and Johnson have been transported to Koochiching County to answer to their charges. Beltrami County Investigators will be presenting cases to the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office for review of additional charges once all the victims of the Beltrami Burglaries have been contacted.

Since July 9th, Beltrami County has experienced 11 reported burglaries in Roosevelt, Benville, Shooks, Spruce, Minnie and Bemidji Townships that have been linked to these burglars. Many of these burglaries occurred at seasonal cabins and unoccupied residences. Deputies have been checking the areas these burglars were frequenting in an attempt to locate any other undiscovered burglaries. The sheriff’s office requests anyone with property in the northern part of our county to check for break-ins and report them immediately.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp