At around 7:10 PM on January 24, 2026, officers went to Ecig and Tobacco at 4711 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, Ramsey County on a robbery. Officers met an employee, LS [DOB REDACTED], who said he had been robbed by a white male who was 6’2” tall and weighed 300 pounds and wore a ski mask, sunglasses, and a green jacket. The robber was later identified as WILLIAM CHARLES FULLER [DOB REDACTED]. Surveillance video showed Fuller entered the store and walked towards LS who was behind the counter. Fuller shoved LS from behind into a wall/shelf.
Fuller commanded LS to get on the ground several times. LS put his hands in the air, and Fuller shoved him to the floor from behind. Fuller commanded, “Don’t look at me – stay face down,” several times. LS complied. Fuller grabbed four large wholesale boxes containing Kratom tablets, hugged them to his chest, and left the store. Another employee at 4711 Highway 61 learned of the robbery. The employee thought the robber matched Fuller’s description. The employee knew Fuller frequently purchased Kratom, and the employee said Fuller has a temper and has had past verbal altercations with staff.
The employee said the robber’s voice and gait matched Fuller. Ecig and Tobacco and Ecig Firehouse Smokeshop are owned by the same person. An Ecig Firehouse Smokeshop employee viewed surveillance video of the Ecig and Tobacco robbery and immediately recognized the robber as Fuller. The employee has spoken to Fuller almost every day for the past 2.5 years and recognized Fuller’s voice. The employee also recognized Fuller by the way he walked and held up his pants. The employee said Fuller had worn the same black shoes with red laces he wore during the robbery while inside Ecig Firehouse Smokeshop.
The employee noted that Fuller tried to kick LS but missed – the employee knows Fuller has a tear in his calf on the leg he used to try to kick LS. The employee said the items stolen at Ecig and Tobacco match what Fuller and his wife normally buy. Further investigation revealed police responded to the apartment building at [ADDRESS REDACTED] on a domestic on December 10, 2025 between Fuller and his wife. Fuller wore black shoes with red laces matching what the robber wore on January 24, 2026 at Ecig and Tobacco.
Officers stopped and arrested Fuller in a black Cadillac on January 27, 2026. Officers recovered Kratom packages from Fuller matching what was stolen in the robbery. Fuller declined a custodial statement. Fuller denied living at an apartment when asked for a key to avoid damage when officers made entry and executed a warrant. Officers executed a search warrant on the apartment where Fuller’s wife is a tenant at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. Officers recovered mail in Fuller’s name at the address. Officers recovered Kratom packages matching what was stolen in the robbery inside the apartment.
