July 2009, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office joined with multiple central Minnesota law enforcement agencies, pooling investigative resources in response to dozens of burglaries across the region that had many similarities, and were sophisticated in nature, with disarming alarms, types of businesses that were hit, time, and other similar methods of operation. Intelligence was shared across the region as a result of investigative meetings and Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Department arrested James Irving Dale, age 45, and Brent Paul Martin, age 35, both of Annandale, for burglarizing a Fort Ripley golf course.
Aug. 26, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a search warrant at a residence in the 8600 block of 79th Street NW, in Annandale, where both Dale and Martin reside. Several items of stolen property were recovered that linked Martin and Dale to three separate business burglaries over the past year in Meeker County. The A Maze’n Farm Yard in rural Eden Valley had related burglaries in November 2008 and June 2009, as well as Kicker’s Bar & Grill of rural Litchfield in March 2009. Numerous other items were recovered during the warrant, tying this group into many related burglaries across central Minnesota.
Formal complaints have been filed in Meeker County on Brent Martin and James Dale, and follow-up is still being conducted on several cases. Brent Martin has posted bail on his pending charges and is awaiting further court appearances. James Dale is still being held in Morrison County awaiting his initial appearance in Meeker County.
Arrests made for area burglaries
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