Apple Valley Police Arrest Suspects in Fire Station Theft and Vehicle Burglaries
Updated: August 26, 2024 at 11:30 AM
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - On Thursday, April 4, 2024, around 9:30 PM, officers with the Apple Valley Police Department were dispatched to Apple Valley Fire Station #2 for a reported theft. According to court records and criminal complaints released by the Dakota County Attorney's Office, video surveillance on the property reportedly showed two people stealing items from the Fire Station #2 job site.
According to the criminal complaint, a person matching the description of one of the suspects was seen just north of the fire station and was stopped by the police. Officers identified the suspect as Melissa Faulkner. While speaking with Faulkner, officers noticed an item in her pocket. Faulkner admitted it was a power tool battery she had taken from the fire station work site. She was then placed under arrest and, after waiving her Miranda rights, admitted to officers that she and her boyfriend, who was later identified as Charles Myers, had gone into the property earlier that day to take items. The couple reportedly took the items to a nearby home she had been staying at.
Officers with the Apple Valley Police Department then reportedly went to the home Faulkner stated the items were at and found the other stolen items.
The criminal complaint states that on Friday, April 5, 2024, officers with the Apple Valley Police Department responded to a residence just before 8 AM to report a vehicle theft. The victim stated their car was last seen around 10 PM the prior night. According to the criminal complaint, police had run the plate of this vehicle a few hours prior in a park in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When officers went to check the park for the vehicle, it was no longer there.
Around 8:35 AM that morning, officers found the stolen vehicle in the 13800 block of Flagstaff Avenue in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it increased speed and ran several stop signs, so the pursuit was terminated. Soon after ending the pursuit, the victim called law enforcement, saying he reportedly found the vehicle and saw a suspect run from it wearing a red sweater. Just before 8:40 AM that morning, law enforcement responded to the report of suspicious activity near a home in the area, with the suspect being described as a male with blond hair and a red hoodie. Officers reportedly began to suspect this person might be linked to the burglaries at the fire station from the night before, whom the girlfriend identified as Charles Myers. Officers located the vehicle by 9 AM and were permitted by the victim to search the vehicle. Officers reportedly found a beanie and debit card named Charles Myers inside the vehicle. The victim of the car reported to officers that several items looked to have been stolen from the car.
Just after 9:30 AM, Apple Valley Police Officers were dispatched for a welfare check on a male reportedly wearing a red shirt and black pants. When officers arrived, the male was identified as Charles Myers and promptly taken into custody, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint also states that everything that occurred on the 5th of April occurred within a one-mile radius of where the vehicle was initially stolen from.
Melissa Faulkner - Updated August 26, 2024
Court records show that the Dakota County Attorney's Office is charging Melissa Faulkner with two Felony counts of 2nd Degree Burglary (Government, Religious, Historic, or School building). Her bail was set at $5,000 with no conditions and $2,000 with conditions.
Court records show that Melissa Faulkner pleaded guilty to Felony 3rd-degree Burglary, while her Felony 2nd-degree Burglary charges were dismissed. She was sentenced to 41 days in Dakota County Jail and was credited for spending 41 days in jail. She will also have three years of supervised probation with Dakota County Community Corrections.
Charles Myers - Updated August 26, 2024
Regarding the Fire Station burglaries on April 4th, court records show the Dakota County Attorney's Office is charging Charles Myers with Felony aiding and abetting of 2nd Degree Burglary of a (Government, Religious, Historic, or School building). Regarding the incidents on April 5th, Charles Myers is also being charged in a separate case by the Dakota County Attorney's Office for Felony Receiving Stolen Property ($1,000 or less and Motor Vehicle) and Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. His bond was set at $35,000 with no conditions and $20,000 with conditions.
According to court records, Myers has a criminal history that includes drug possession and identity theft. He also has pending cases for felony receiving stolen property, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and theft of services. He also has an active warrant from Washington County.
Court records show that Charles Myers was acquitted of burglary charges on July 11, 2024, by a jury regarding the incident on April 4th, 2024. He still has eight additional pending charges, including those from April 5th in Dakota County.