On or about 12/16/2025, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office detectives located a confirmed stolen vehicle in the city of Minneapolis in the area of 17th Avenue and 27th Street in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The vehicle was a 2010 Pontiac G6 with Minnesota license plates SPM032. The vehicle was parked facing eastbound on the south side of 27th Street East at the corner of 17th Avenue South. There was one passenger in the vehicle and it was turned off. Then, a male, later identified as DANIEL FERRIS BIGBEAR JR [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, entered the vehicle from the driver’s side and started it and eventually began driving the vehicle east on 27th Street East, then south through the alley between Cedar Avenue and 18th Avenue South, continuing across 28th Street in the alley.
At this time, Hennepin County Deputies approached from the south in the alley and attempted to stop the vehicle. Defendant attempted to reverse and flee but was successfully stopped by deputies, who disabled the vehicle. Defendant initially failed to comply with commands to show his hands and had nervous furtive movements to his waist and seat. At the time of the arrest, Defendant did have active warrants for his arrest. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and observed numerous items associated with drug use, including pipes, needles, and hoses.
A small amount of suspected narcotics was located on the front passenger seat, and additional suspected narcotics were found on the driver’s side. Law enforcement found a wallet with "Devin Bigbear Jr" written on the outside. The wallet contained an ID and bank card for Defendant. The keys for the vehicle were in the ignition and were connected to a key chain with mace, key fob from a Dodge, Chevrolet, Kia, and other unidentified keys. While searching the passenger side, law enforcement located a silver handgun leaning against the center console.
The firearm was identified as a Bersa S. A. Ramos Mejia Cal.380 ACP, serial number H16140. The handgun was unloaded but contained cartridges in the magazine. Further search of the passenger side revealed a second black handgun under the passenger seat. This firearm was identified as a Canik by Century Arms. The serial number was obscured with epoxy and painted black, rendering it unreadable. This handgun was also unloaded but had cartridges in the magazine. A known DNA sample was obtained from Defendant to compare to DNA if found on the firearms.
The Bersa.380 was a confirmed stolen firearm that was reported stolen on 10/9/2025. DNA results showed Defendant’s DNA to be a major male DNA profile on the based and exposed top cartridge of the magazine from the Bersa.380 firearm. The results were Defendant’s DNA matches the major male profile and did not match the passenger. The probability of observing this DNA profile is greater than 100 billion times more likely if a mixture of DNA from Defendant and two unknown, unrelated individuals is the source than if a mixture of DNA from three unknown, unrelated individuals is the source.
