ARRESTS MADE IN RECENT RASH OF BURGLARIES

On Thursday, April 12, 2012, members of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested Richard Allen Fowler 49, and Kristy Jo Coyle 23, both of Bemidji. In the last week and a half, investigators also arrested Joel Clarence Velisek, age 46; John David Iverson, age 32 and John Joseph Waslaski, age 38, all of Bemidji. These five suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent plague of thefts, including vehicle type, and burglaries in Beltrami County and the City of Bemidji.

Stolen Property including firearms, power tools, copper pipes, tools, and a stolen pick-up truck were recovered during the arrests and subsequent searches. Radios, recorders and police equipment recently taken from a Leech Lake Tribal Police Car and the Upper Mississippi Mental Health transport vehicle were also recovered. Reports on these investigations have been forwarded to the Beltrami County Attorney's Office for review of potential charges.

Much of the property taken in many of these incidents is not identifiable to a particular victim because of a lack of serial numbers or the victims did not have the serial numbers or good descriptions recorded.

Folks are reminded to record serial numbers and take photos or video of your valuables to enable the identification of your property should it be stolen by burglars and subsequently recovered. Successful resolution of these investigations is often hampered due to inability to accurately identify stolen property when found in the possession of thieves.

Investigators are continuing to follow-up on these investigations and are still looking for more of the stolen property. Much of the property had already been sold by the suspects. People who recently purchased items from these individuals are asked to contact the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office at 333-9111.

Leech Lake Tribal Police also provided outstanding assistance in the investigation and subsequent arrests of the suspects.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office