On January 23, 2025, at approximately 11:40 A.M., Wright County Deputy Dunham was dispatched to 3279 70th St SW in Woodland Township, Wright County, Minnesota, for a motor vehicle theft report. Upon arrival at that location, Dep. Dunham spoke with the property owner, Randall Rasset, and his son, Thomas Rasset. Randall stated he stores several vehicles in his pole barn and frequently goes out there to “putz around”. Randall stated he went into the shop at approximately 11:00 this morning and observed that his 1963 Studebaker Lark, MN #771125, was missing.
Randall stated the last time he had been in the shop was on Tuesday 1/21/25. Randall stated he kept the keys with the vehicle and had not moved the vehicle for a couple of months. Randall stated he leaves the service door to the shop unlocked, but the overhead door, where the Studebaker was parked, is always locked and he observed it was unlocked when he came in this morning. Randall showed the Deputy vehicle tracks leaving the shop, moving towards the rear of the property and then along the rear of the property before driving through the lawn and back up to another pole building to the rear of the shop.
Thomas stated on 1/21 he heard someone outside in the driveway at approximately 11:00 – 11:30 P.M. Thomas stated he observed the Studebaker parked behind the camper, in front of the rear pole building. At that time, Thomas stated he could not see anything more due to it being dark, but he assumed it was either his father or brother because they are the only ones that drive the Studebaker. Thomas stated he was certain of the time and day because he could hear helicopters flying overhead. It should be noted on 1/21 at approximately 8:30 P.M., deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance report at [ADDRESS REDACTED] SW, just north of the property.
During that incident, MN State Patrol Helicopters were in the area at approximately 11:30 P.M., attempting to locate the suspect in that incident, Connor Alan Janisch. While walking the property Dep. Dunham observed a distinctive set of shoe prints that led up to the rear of the shop, along the rear of the property coming from the wooded area to the east of the property line. Dep. Dunham observed the suspect shoe prints enter the property of 3095, proceed up to the service door of the pole building on the property, then move from there to two different vehicles parked on the property.
The shoe prints then proceed from the vehicles toward the wood line on the west side of the property. Randall estimated the value of the 1963 Studebaker to be approximately $15,000, and stated that two folding chairs, approximately $25/each, and a battery charger worth approximately $150, were also missing. A buccal swab was obtained from Randall, and swabs were taken from the light switch next to the garage door, the latch and the pull handle on the overhead garage door. Dep. Dunham learned that the 1963 Studebaker plate (MN #771255) was observed by Minnetonka Police at 2:01 A.M. On 1/22/25 at the intersection of MN-7 and Williston Rd in Minnetonka but the vehicle was not stopped.
