On June 3, 2026 police were dispatched to Marathon Gas Station, 11025 10th St N, Lake Elmo, Washington County, Minnesota on reports of a theft. Upon arrival officers spoke with S. W., the store owner who reported they had been doing their weekly deposits when they needed to use the restroom, and left the deposit, $3963.00 in the bathroom. When they realized and returned to the restroom the cash was gone. Officers reviewed the store's CCTV footage, whcih showed a group of males arrive at the gas station in black Ford Focus, MN plate THJ020. One male enters the bathroom then shortly there after returns to the vehicle.
The driver and registered owner MORGAN MARCEL SNODGRASS JR [DOB REDACTED] (Defendant) then exits teh vehicle and and enters the bathroom, before causally exiting the gas station and returning to the vehicle. The vehicle then quickly sped out of the gas station and onto the main road. On June 4, 2026 police officers stopped the Ford Focus and Defendant was taken into custody. Post- Miranda, Defendant initially denied any knowledge of the money and identified the first person to use the restroom as J. L. Officers spoke with J. L. Who stated he used the restroom observed the bag of money in there, assumed it was from a drug deal and left the bathroom.
J. L. Then informed Defendant when he got back to the car about the money. According to J. L. Defendnat then went in the bathroom, came back and rapidly drove them from the store. J. L. Reported Defendant split the money with another coworker, C. B. Officers spoke with C. B. Who was also in the vehicle on June 3, who reported Defendant mentioned finding money in the bathroom. Officers then re-Mirandized Defendant who stated J. L. Needed to use the restroom at the gas station, and that J. L. Came back and told Defendant there was money in the bathroom.
Defendant then admitted to going into the restroom and taking the money not knowing who it belonged to. Defendant then attempted to back track and claim there was nothing in the bathroom at which point officers pointed out he had already admitted to taking the money.
