LOCAL OFFICERS RECEIVE AWARD FROM AVCAM (ANTI VEHICLE CRIME ASSOCIATION MINNESOTA)

On September 7, 2011, Anti-Vehicle Crime Association- Minnesota representative Mr. Charlie O’Brien presented awards to Officers from Red Lake Tribal Police Department and Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the apprehension and conviction of Fabian English after a crime spree on November 25, 2010, in the Bemidji and Red Lake area. Beltrami County Sheriff’s Investigator Danelle Haugen nominated the officers for recognition of their work.

During the early morning hours on Thanksgiving Day, 2010, a Fabian English stole a vehicle from the city of Bemidji and travelled to a residence in Beltrami County where he abandoned the stolen vehicle and started it on fire, then English stole a second vehicle. English used the second stolen vehicle to travel to numerous residences where he stole items out of garages. Most of the burglaries occurred while the homeowners were at home and asleep.

English travelled to a third residence in Beltrami County, stole a pick-up truck and transferred the stolen items he had obtained during the burglaries to the pick-up truck. English started the second stolen vehicle on fire and left the scene in the third stolen pick-up which contained the stolen goods. One of the victims awoke seeing the fire and called the Sheriff's Office.

Beltrami County Sheriff's Deputies were advised of the burglaries and stolen vehicles. While enroute to investigate the complaints, Deputy Lyan Karger observed the stolen pickup and attempted to stop English. English refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit entered the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Red Lake officers took over the pursuit and eventually captured Fabian English after a shooting incident with police.

No officers were injured; however, English sustained a gunshot wound to the foot and was taken into custody by Red Lake Police who then turned the suspect over to Beltrami County. Red Lake Conservation Officer Jonathan Richards, Red Lake K-9 Sgt Jason Defoe and Red Lake Sgt Criminal Investigator Paul Qwako all assisted in the apprehension of Fabian English.

Beltrami County Sheriff's Investigator Scott Hinners obtained a confession from Fabian English. Because he is a Prior convicted felon, English is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time. The efforts of the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Red Lake Tribal Officers with assistance from the US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms resulted in a successful prosecution by the US Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis. English’s prior felonies include a 2006 federal conviction in the District of Minnesota for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and a 2010 state conviction in Becker County for fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Fabian English has been sentenced to 110 months in Federal Prison. English is still facing state charges stemming from these incidents.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp