The Juice Box Heist: Two Arrested Following Burglary in Inver Grove Heights
IVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA - According to a criminal complaint released by the Dakota County Attorney's Officer, on Thursday, December 21, 2023, officers with the Inver Grove Heights were called out to a residence for the report of a burglary around 1:02 pm, after a resident of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, noticed an unknown woman walking around their child’s room via video surveillance.
The resident called their father, who went to the resident's home and found two unknown people walking out of the residence, so he confronted them. Police were also called to the scene, and when they arrived, they observed the resident’s father had apprehended the two unknown suspects. The father told officers that when he came to the residence, he saw the two suspects exit with the female suspect holding a Juicy Juice box.
The two suspects were later identified as Joel Ernesto Cortez Garay and Jasmine Cortes Hidalgo. Officers detained the two suspects for further questioning.
Following being read their Miranda rights, the criminal complaint states that Jasmine admitted to the police that she and Joel had entered the residence through an open door. The pair left the residence together out of the same door they entered. While Jasmine initially denied stealing anything from the residence, she later admitted to taking a juice box and some loose money she had found. Joel declined to provide a statement to the police.
The criminal complaint reports that both Joel Ernesto Cortez Garay and Jasmine Cortes Hidalgo were charged with Felony Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Commit Theft or Felony or Gross Misdemeanor), which comes with a 0 to 5-year sentence or a fine of $3,000 to $10,000.
Joel and Jasmine's next court appearance will be on January 11, 2024, in Hastings, Minnesota, at 1:30 PM.
Dakota County Jail
Written by: Kayla Reed
