James Nicholas Dahlager, 26, was already being considered a suspect in a series of robberies when he was arrested Tuesday night, Aug. 14, in Plymouth. Dahlager was arrested, after a chase on I-94, along with his 19-year-old wife, Kelsey Jeanne Schmidt of South Haven. Dahlager is being held on $200,000 bail in the Hennepin County Jail. According to at least one published report, he confessed to 14 armed robberies. Schmidt was released by Hennepin County and later arrested by St. Cloud Police as authorities determine the extent of her involvement. She is being held in Stearns County jail. At least one published report indicates that she may have cased some of the targets in advance. Dahlager grew up in Sacred Heart, but also claims residences in South Haven and Prior Lake (the address to which he was in the process of moving). Dahlager is a registered level III (most likely to re-offend) sex offender in the state of Minnesota. His victims were two girls, age 3 and 12. He was scheduled to move to Prior Lake, and a required public notification meeting will still be held in that community Aug. 23. As of Tuesday this week, some charges had been filed against Dahlager, while others are pending. Here is a chronology of events, as known at this time: • Friday, Sept. 7, Minneapolis court date for six robbery charges. • Thursday, Aug. 23, public notification meeting scheduled in Prior Lake. • Monday, Aug. 20, Dahlager is charged with five counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated robbery. • Thursday, Aug. 16, Hennepin County Attorney’s office charged Dahlager with first-degree robbery for Maple Plain robbery. Schmidt is released. • 6:15 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, Dahlager and Schmidt booked into Hennepin County adult detention center in Minneapolis. • Aug. 15, official date of Dahlager’s change of residence to Prior Lake. • 11:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, both Dahlager and arrested after “stop strips” on I-494 stop their car in Plymouth. Two silver handguns were found in their car; one account states that they were air guns. • 10:09 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, robbery at Fairfield Inn in St. Cloud. Robber used silver semi-automatic handgun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. • 8:26 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, robbery at Subway in Sauk Rapids. Robber used silver semi-automatic gun. • Tuesday, Aug. 14, the Regional Armed Robbery Task Force executed search warrants around the state. • Monday, Aug. 13, Prior Lake authorities notified by Department of Corrections that Dahlager, a Level III sex offender, will move into their town in two days. • 9:45 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10, armed robbery at SuperAmerica convenience store in Le Sueur. • Additional armed robberies in St. Cloud, and a vegetable stand in Hutchinson. • 7:37 p.m. day, July 28, robbery at Olson’s Market in Maple Plain. About $350 stolen. • July 25, armed robbery at Coady’s Liquors in Annandale. • July 16, armed robbery at Coady’s Liquors in Annandale. • July 4, armed robbery at Roger’s Liquor Store in Grove City. • June 8, armed robbery at Mike’s Standard in Eden Valley. • Nov. 22, 2006, Dahlager was released from prison after serving his full sentence. • Dahlager violated the terms of his release and was sent back to prison in April 2002 to serve the remainder of five years. • November 2001 released from Lino Lakes on intensive supervised release. • December 2000, admitted to Lino Lakes facility to serve 22 months and 15 days for second-degree criminal sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl. • 2000 second-degree criminal sexual conduct felony in Brown County. • 1999 convicted of motor vehicle theft in Marshall (Lyon County); served 90 days in jail. • 1998 third-degree burglary in St. Peter (Nicollet County); served 30 days in Nicollet County Jail plus five years probation. The Regional Armed Robbery Task Force consisted of police departments in Annandale, Eden Valley, St. Cloud, St. Peter, Willmar, Hutchinson, Gaylord, and Litchfield; county sheriff offices of Meeker, Le Sueur, Renville, Sibley, Kandiyohi; West Hennepin Public Safety; assisted by Minneapolis FBI, Minnesota State Patrol, Prior Lake Police and Plymouth Police. A number of published reports plus public information from the BCA were used to gather this information. Because these robberies took place in a number of communities in 10 counties, there are many newspaper accounts so far.
