12/19/1992 (33), violated the law as set forth herein. On the morning of April 8, 2026, Officer Brandon Plumski responded to 1322 7th Avenue East, Alexandria, Minnesota for a stolen vehicle report. The complainant, Melissa Purdy, noticed her car – a 2004 silver Chevrolet Cavalier with Minnesota license plate NDN120 – was missing from her home at approximately 6:00 AM that day. She saw headlights outside at approximately 4:00 AM but thought someone was going to work. Melissa believed she had mistakenly left an extra set of keys in the vehicle, which was registered to her mother, Shirley Purdy.
She did not give anyone permission to operate the vehicle. Off. Plumski spoke with Shirely, who confirmed she had given the vehicle to Melissa. No one had permission to use the vehicle other than Melissa and Melissa’s son, who confirmed he did not give anyone permission to use the vehicle. The vehicle was entered as stolen. At approximately 8:38 AM on April 8, 2026, Off. Plumski was notified that Deputy Tanner Robasse had received a call about suspicious activity and located the stolen vehicle outside a residence in Carlos, Minnesota.
A next-door witness reported seeing a likely male party wearing all black with a black ski mask exit the vehicle. The person then got into a white SUV headed southbound. The stolen vehicle’s plates were covered with a torn-up map, and the keys were still in the ignition. It appeared the suspect had gone through the vehicle, as the glove box and center console were open. Off. Plumski arrived on scene and took DNA swabs from the suspect vehicle. Another witness reported seeing a white SUV driving around the area before heading southbound and turning left onto 5th Avenue in Carlos.
Based on this information, it was believed that Lisa Barker may have information regarding the stolen vehicle, as she was known to drive a white SUV and resided at 115 5th Avenue West in Carlos. Off. Plumski and Dep. Robasse made contact with Lisa, who relayed that Mitchell Bane (“the Defendant”) had showed up at her house at approximately 4:30 AM that morning with the stolen vehicle. The Defendant told her how he had stolen it. When Lisa told him she didn’t want the car around her house, he moved it down the street.
Lisa then picked the Defendant up in her vehicle and took him to Alexandria to retrieve his car in the area of 7th Avenue near Brothers Market (the same area where Melissa’s vehicle was stolen). Lisa then brought the Defendant back to her house, where he fell asleep in a chair. With Lisa’s permission, law enforcement entered the house and observed the Defendant sleeping in a chair as Lisa described. He was woken up and placed under arrest for motor vehicle theft. He was transported to the Douglas County Jail, where he was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with Off.
