All of the conduct described herein occurred within the County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota, unless otherwise noted. On April 14, 2026, Duluth Community Service Officers responded to a report of a stolen wallet at the Center for Changing Lives located on E. Superior Street in the city of Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. The reporting party stated that his wallet had disappeared sometime after 10:00 pm the previous night and that he knew his wallet was missing because he needed it in order to use the elevator at the Center for Changing Lives.
The reporting party then told the Community Service Officer that at approximately 1:36 pm that day his Cashapp card had been used at the Dairy Queen located on Canal Park Drive and was also attempted to be used at Canal Park Liquor on Stuphin Street, but that the second charge did not go through. Video footage was requested from the Center for Changing Lives, Dairy Queen, and the liquor store. Investigator Tomlin reviewed the video footage once received and observed that a male at 7:54 am on April 14, 2026, walked by the elevator where the reporting party's wallet was located on an AED device.
The male was wearing a black ski mask with a white Nike logo on the top left portion, eyeglasses with gold frames, a cut off style white shirt, ripped jeans and had a large feather tattoo on his right arm near his shoulder. The male in the video can be seen grabbing the wallet from the AED box and then walking into the nearest apartment. The male was identified as JOVON ALEXANDER SMALLWOOD, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter Defendant. Officers confirmed the identity of Defendant through his known tattoos.
Investigator Tomlin then reviewed the footage from Dairy Queen showing Defendant in the same clothing at the Dairy Queen store in the city of Duluth attempting to make a purchase for $12.87. Finally, Investigator Tomlin reviewed the video footage from Canal Park Liquor. Defendant entered that store on the same day wearing the same clothing and attempted to make a purchase for $15.58, however, that charge was declined. Defendant has a prior gross misdemeanor conviction for theft in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.52 from June 2, 2025, in Court File No. 69DU-CR-24-3801. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn.
Stat. 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
