On April 17, 2026, around 7:20 P.M., law enforcement responded to the area of Buchanan Street NE and 123rd Avenue NE, Blaine, Anoka County, on a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area since the morning - a U-Haul 2025 GMC Sierra (AN/20246). Around 7:58 P.M., a reporting party called and reported that a male suspect was at the vehicle and was attempting to break into the vehicle using a long wire. The male suspect was later identified as Jesse Robert Lien [DOB REDACTED], defendant herein. Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement located the vehicle.
Defendant was inside the vehicle and law enforcement observed defendant open the driver’s side door, exit the vehicle, and walk to them. Defendant immediately told law enforcement “It’s not my truck. I was just trying to grab something out of there.” Defendant stated the U-Haul belonged to his friend “Clinton Holder,” but that he did not know where his friend was, his friend did not live in the area, and he did not know why it was parked here. Defendant said he had Facebook messages where his friend gave him permission, but Defendant was unable to find the messages on his phone.
Defendant also said that the U-Haul was unlocked when he got there, which is not consistent with the reporting party who stated she saw defendant using a wire to get into the vehicle. Defendant had a backpack in the vehicle. Defendant also said he as just trying to get his bike out of the back of the truck. Law enforcement confirmed the vehicle had been reported by U-Haul as stolen out of Hennepin County on April 14, 2026. In a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found a bent black coated metal on the floor of the cab.
It was bent to form a loop. They also found two inflatable airbags, which from law enforcement’s training and experience are commonly used to pry open car doors.
