Apple Valley Theft: Suspect Caught with Stolen Items and Runaway Juvenile
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Officers with the Apple Valley Police Department responded to a Target store in the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota, for the report of a theft from the store on Monday, December 11, 2023.
When officers arrived, the suspect had already left the store. Officers later found a suspect matching the suspect's description at a nearby bus station pushing a cart of merchandise from the store. According to the criminal complaint, that suspect was identified as 28-year-old Joshua Williams—the criminal complaint stated when police attempted to stop Mr. Williams, he ran from officers but was eventually caught. He initially gave officers a false name and birthdate, but authorities were able to eventually properly ID him. According to the complaint, Mr. Williams told the police after he was arrested he would continue to steal but would use a getaway driver next time and wouldn't steal in the city of Apple Valley.
Mr. Williams was also seen with a juvenile female, who also gave authorities a false name and stated she was an adult initially. She was later identified as a known 17-year-old runaway. The complaint states she told police she was pregnant and showed them her protruding belly. In the cart of stolen items, officers found baby items. When they searched her bag, they also found drug paraphernalia.
During their investigation into the incident, police spoke with Target loss prevention, who identified Mr. Williams as the one who left through a fire exit without paying for merchandise, with the theft caught on video surveillance. The total amount for the items stolen exceeded $1,000.
According to the criminal complaint, Joshua William of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was charged with Felony Theft (Over $1,000 up to $5,000), which comes with a sentence of 0 to 5 years and/or a fine of $3,000 to $10,000. His bond was set at $40,000 without conditions and $20,000 with conditions. Williams also appears to have a hold from Wright County for criminal vehicular operation under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances according to Dakota County Jail records.
Dakota County Jail
