On May 29, 2026, the St. Francis Police Department responded to a report of theft of two chainsaws from the St. Francis Hardware Store, "Victim" herein, located at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. NW, city of St. Francis, county of Anoka. K. S., an employee of Victim, [NAME REDACTED] had seen DEREK JAMES SCHWARTZ, [DOB REDACTED], "Defendant" herein, in the store earlier that day and speaking with the former store owner. Another customer approached K. S. And said that he had just seen a man walk out of the store with two chainsaws.
K. S. Went outside, saw Defendant in a vehicle pulling out of the parking lot, and noted that he was the only person leaving at that time. Law enforcement showed K. S. Defendant's DVS photo and she confirmed his identity. K. S. Reported that the stolen chainsaws were a white and orange Stihl MS300 with serial # 44905756 worth $1,480 and a white and orange Stihl MS462 with serial #197328938 worth $1,780. The total retail value of the stolen chainsaws was $3,260. D. S, the owner of Victim, reported to law enforcement that he saw the stolen chainsaws were posted for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
The posting was made by V. L., later identified as the girlfriend of Defendant. Law enforcement entered a KOPS alert on Defendant's vehicle, a 2012 black Ford Escape bearing MN License # TFJ901, which was subsequently stopped by Blaine police on May 30, 2026. Defendant was the driver, V. L was the passenger, and the Blaine patrol officer observed a white and orange Stihl chainsaw in plain view in the backseat. St. Francis police responded to the traffic stop and placed Defendant and V. L. Into custody.
After being read the Miranda advisory, V. L. Stated that Defendant asked her to list the chainsaws on Facebook Marketplace and then used her phone to communicate with individuals regarding the posting. V. L. Denied knowing that the chainsaws were stolen. Defendant was also read the Miranda advisory and admitted that he stole the chainsaws from Victim because he needed money and there was no one at the counter of the store, that he was the one messaging people on Facebook, and that V. L. Did not know they were stolen.
Defendant reported that he had pawned one of the chainsaws at We Pay More Pawn on University Ave NE and that the chainsaw in the back seat was stolen. Defendant gave law enforcement permission to take the other chainsaw, which was confirmed to bear the same serial number as the stolen chainsaw, and to search his vehicle. Law enforcement located a pawn receipt in the vehicle and verified that the serial number of the pawned chainsaw matched that of the stolen chainsaw. Defendant is in custody.
