A Cambridge Township man is facing 11 charges relating to alleged theft, tampering with motor vehicles and drug possession.
Jeffery Robert Hanson, 34, was charged before Judge James Dehn Oct. 4 in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge with felony possession of burglary or theft tools; and misdemeanors theft, fourth-degree damage to property, and three counts of tampering with motor vehicle without owner permission. Bail was set at $20,000 without conditions or $10,000 with conditions, and his next court appearance was set for Oct. 20.
In a separate Isanti County case, he was also charged Sept. 30 before Judge Sean Gibbs with gross misdemeanor fifth-degree drug possession; misdemeanors driving with a revoked license and carrying proof of insurance when operating motor vehicle; and petty misdemeanors possession of drug paraphernalia and drug possession. Bail was set at $4,000 without conditions or $2,000 with conditions, and his next court appearance also was set for Oct. 20.
According to the criminal complaints:
On Sept. 27, at 5:07 a.m., Isanti County Deputy Matt Burkhardt was dispatched to Reliable Tree Service in Grandy regarding a theft complaint.
Upon arrival, Burkhardt met with an employee who reported someone entered the fenced in yard of the business and cut the locks on tool boxes attached to trucks and wood chippers. The employee showed Burkhardt the damaged locks on the wood chippers and trucks. The employee was unsure of all of the items that were stolen, but reported a 10-piece Klutch brand socket set and a Nitrocat Air Impact Wrench was missing with a total value of $300.
Burkhardt checked the perimeter fence of the business to determine how access was gained to the business and located a 2 to 3 foot hole that had been cut in the north perimeter fence. At that location, Burkhardt recovered an allen-key wrench, socket and bottle of oil positively identified as Reliable Tree Service property. Burkhardt also located a fuel can on the outside of the perimeter fence also positively identified as Reliable Tree Service property and was identified as having been taken from a truck. Next to the fuel can, Burkhardt located a pair of bolt cutters. The matter was referred for further investigation.
On Sept. 28, at 10:57 p.m., Isanti County Deputy Jason Sievert received a driving complaint in the area of Hastings Street and 338th Lane in Isanti County. Sievert located the vehicle, driven by Hanson, who was arrested for traffic violations. An inventory search of the vehicle revealed a number of tools, including an impact air tool with “RTS” engraved on it. The search also led to the discovery of methamphetamine inside the vehicle, and marijuana and marijuana pipes inside the trunk of the vehicle.
The vehicle was impounded and the information was given to Isanti County Investigator Rob Bowker.
On Sept. 29, Bowker met with the employee from Reliable Tree Service to review surveillance video for the time of the theft. Video surveillance showed that on Sept. 27, at 2:10 a.m., a male party entered the Reliable Tree Service property from the north side of the property. Bowker identified the person in the surveillance video as Hanson.
On Sept. 30, Bowker obtained a search warrant for the Hanson’s vehicle. A search, pursuant to the warrant, recovered a Nitrocat 1200K air impact wrench and multiple hand tools that were positively identified as Reliable Tree Service property stolen on Sept. 27.
Bowker interviewed Hanson, who said he didn’t know where the Nitrocat 1200K air impact wrench came from and the various hand tools had been in the vehicle for months.