On February 10, 2026, at approximately 3:00 P.M., a man and a woman came into Art of Optiks on France in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, and were looking at expensive glasses frames. To set up an eye exam, the man gave his out of state license which identified him as Javante Jessee Smith. Jessee Smith was with a woman purported to be his girlfriend, later identified as Tai'Aisha Brown, hereafter defendant. Defendant had given the business her actual prescription, which also included her phone number, address and birthdate.
Jessee Smith was on the sales floor with an employee when video showed this defendant grab two items and place the items in her purse. The pair then told the employees that they had to run a quick errand and left the store. Neither party appeared for their scheduled exam. Inventory was done almost immediately and showed that the store was missing two glasses frames with a combined value of approximately $8000. Subsequent investigation verified defendant's identity based on the information she had given to the business.
Defendant has a warrant outstanding for a theft case in 27-CR-26-9026 for the amount of $5000. The State is asking the Court to issue a warrant for the defendant's arrest.
