On April 29, 2026, at approximately 7:43 P.M., a Faribault Police Officer was dispatched to respond to a report of a stolen vehicle to a residence in Faribault, Rice County, Minnesota. Upon arrival, law enforcement spoke to the vehicle's owner A. J. K., who indicated that his 1995 Ford F250 pickup truck had been stolen. The truck had Minnesota license plates reading "KMV727", was teal green in color, and had a silver metal toolbox in the back. A. J. K. Stated that his truck broke down on I-35 approximately a mile north of Lyndale Ave.
In Faribault. A. J. K. Stated he attempted to remove the truck from the highway but had to go home to get some tools. When he returned to the truck's location, it was gone. A. J. K. Stated that the truck was locked when he left, that he had the only key to access the truck, and he did not give anyone permission to drive his truck. The truck had not been towed by the State. On May 8, 2026, Faribault Police contacted MNDOT and requested surveillance footage of the relevant stretch of I-35 on the date and time of the incident.
In reviewing the footage provided by MNDOT, Faribault Police observed a black truck towing the teal colored F250 with a tow strap. The black truck had unique aftermarket rims and appeared to be missing its rear bumper. On May 12, 2026, law enforcement was able to identify what was believed to be the black truck on a City of Faribault owned FLOCK camera. This truck was a 2010 Black GMC Sierra with Minnesota license plates reading "YAT337" and matched the appearance of the vehicle seen in the MNDOT video.
The black truck was registered to a woman, R. H. H. Who resides in Northfield. Law enforcement was also aware that Douglas Nolan Roper, [DOB redacted] ("Defendant"), also resided at that address and has children with R. H. H. Further Defendant was recently arrested at that address and uses that address on his driver's license. On May 13, 2026, law enforcement applied for a search warrant to search the property and any outbuildings for the missing F250 truck; the warrant was approved by a District Court Judge.
On May 14, 2026, at approximately 11:30 A.M., law enforcement executed the search warrant. Law enforcement made contact with R. H. H, who was accompanied by her two daughters. And provided her with a copy of the search warrant. R. H. H. Denied any knowledge of a blue truck, but stated there was a black truck behind the house. The Black GMC Sierra with Minnesota license plates reading "YAT337" was parked in the driveway of the residence. R. H. H. Walked law enforcement to the edge of a wooded area and pointed down a hill in the woods to a vehicle under a tarp.
R. H. H. Indicated it was Defendant's truck. One of the daughters indicated that the truck was blue and that her dad and another person spray painted the truck black. R. H. H. Stated she did not know the truck was blue, that Defendant had gotten it a week ago, that she did not want the truck there, Defendant stated he got the truck from a friend, and that Defendant told her to stop asking questions about the truck. The truck was in a secluded area down a steep embankment that required officers to take a trail to get down to the vehicle.
