On January 9, 2026, at approximately 8:00 A.M., staff from [ADDRESS REDACTED] in Grand Rapids, Itasca County, called dispatch to report that "Charlotte" just got into a patient vehicle. The caller described the vehicle as a white, extended cab work truck. At the time of the call, the reporter said that the vehicle was still in the parking lot. Officer Smallen responded to the area with his emergency lights activated. Once he reached Pokegama Avenue, dispatch advised Officer Smallen that the stolen vehicle drove over the curb and turned south on South Pokegama Avenue.
Officer Smallen turned northbound on South Pokegama Avenue from Golf Course Road in an attempt to intercept the vehicle. When approximately in the 700-block of South Pokegama Avenue, Officer Smallen observed the white extended cab truck driving southbound. As the vehicle passed his location, Officer Smallen saw that the driver was Charlotte Mae Garner. Officer Smallen is familiar with Garner from prior contacts including one around 7:30 A.M. That same morning. Officer Smallen maneuvered his squad vehicle behind the white truck with his emergency lights activated.
The vehicle continued briefly at a slow speed, at which point Officer Smallen activated the siren in his squad car. The vehicle then came to a stop. Officer Smallen approached the vehicle on foot. Once at the vehicle, Officer Smallen observed Garner in the driver's seat. Garner put the vehicle in park and unlocked the door. Officer Smallen opened the driver's door and subsequently removed Garner from the vehicle and placed her in handcuffs. Garner was placed under arrest and put into the backseat of Officer Smallen's squad vehicle.
Officer Smallen asked Garner where her bags were, as he knew she had two (2) bags with her during the contact from thirty (30) minutes earlier. Garner told him that the bags were in the front seat. Officer Smallen retrieved Garner's two (2) backpacks, her gloves, and her hat from the vehicle. Officer Moran then transported Garner to the Itasca County Jail. Sergeant Dirkes spoke with C. N. At [ADDRESS REDACTED]. C. N. Is an authorized driver of the vehicle as the vehicle is a work vehicle through Casper Construction.
Sergeant Dirkes learned that C. N. Did not give anyone permission to drive the vehicle. Records show that Garner has convictions for the following offenses: 04-19-1999: Assault in the Fifth Degree, misdemeanor 11-27-2018: DWI, misdemeanor 11-12-2019: Disorderly Conduct, misdemeanor 04-02-2025: Disorderly Conduct, misdemeanor Records further show that Garner has failed to appear one (1) time regarding these offenses. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
