DAYTIME BURGLAR NABBED

On Tuesday morning, a male juvenile was apprehended by authorities in Clearwater County after the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was tipped off by a citizen who spotted the individual driving out of the Puposky area where he had been sought in connection with several burglaries or attempted burglaries in that area on Monday.

On Monday, September 19, 2011, a citizen confronted the teenager at an unoccupied residence in Puposky. The citizen had been alerted to his presence when he was seen at another residence by a neighbor. The burglar was driving a large ATV and was dressed in riding gear, helmet and facemask. When confronted by the neighbor who was checking on the dwelling, the suspect scuffled with the citizen as he attempted to stop the intruder.

Sheriff's deputies and investigators unsuccessfully combed the area in search of the ATV rider. It was learned that a similar method of operation was being used by a suspect in several burglaries in other counties in Northwestern Minnesota and officers began to pool their information.

On Tuesday morning, an alert citizen in the Puposky area spotted the suspect driving a pick-up truck with the ATV loaded in the bed driving west from the Puposky area. The citizen called the Sheriff's Office and deputies responding to the area from Clearwater and Beltrami Counties captured the suspect.

The juvenile is suspected of committing burglaries in at least five other northwestern Minnesota Counties and in North Dakota. The case is being investigated by the Beltrami, Red Lake, Polk, Clearwater, Pennington and Mahnomen County Sheriff's Offices. The Minnesota State Patrol also assisted in searching for the suspect in Beltrami County on Monday. The suspect remains in the custody of Clearwater County pending review of formal charges by several County Attorney's Offices.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office wishes to thank all the citizens who helped in this investigation and apprehension.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

Additional questions should be directed to the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office at 218-694-6226 where the suspect is in custody.