On September 4, 2025, Fridley Police officers were dispatched a report of check fraud from Mr. Rooter, "Victim" herein, located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE, city of Fridley, county of Anoka. Officers spoke with a Victim employee, A. P, who stated that a former employee, RYAN JAMES DIERKHISING [DOB REDACTED], "Defendant" herein, was given his final paycheck (#1032) in February of 2025 in the amount of $836.31. The check was cashed on or around 02/26/25. There was a second instance where the same check (#1032) was cashed again on August 13, 2025, but with an altered date of February 27 and an altered amount of $836.37. On August 27, 2025, the check (#1032) was cashed for a third time in the amount of $836.32 with a date of February 27. The total amounts cashed by the altered checks was $1672.69. Law enforcement spoke with Victim's bank, Commerce Bank, which confirmed that all three checks had been deposited into Defendant's Wells Fargo bank account.
Law enforcement spoke with Defendant, who stated that he found the check in a file several months later and that he could not remember cashing the check initially so he attempted an auto deposit through his Wells Fargo banking application, thinking that if the check had been previously cashed the bank would not allow the transaction. When asked about the third cashing of the check, Defendant stated that he checked his bank statement and though only a portion of the check went through for $400 so he attempted to cash the check again.
Defendant did not have an explanation as to why the date and dollar amount on the second and third check deposits had been altered. Defendant denied altering the checks and stated that the only people that would have access to the check were him and his children. Defendant stated that he wanted to make the situation right and would reimburse Victim.
