The following is based on your complainant’s review of the reports of other officers and your complainant’s own investigation: On December 12, 2025, at about 6:45pm, Ramsey County Emergency 911 received a call from the parking lot of Pawn America, [ADDRESS REDACTED]., Roseville, Ramsey County. The caller said that a man had just pointed a black handgun at him. He noted that he was bleeding from broken glass from the incident. Roseville Police responded and met with the caller, CLB ([DOB REDACTED]), and his girlfriend, MRB ([DOB REDACTED]). CLB said that while they were traveling in Jeep Cherokee about a mile north of Pawn America, a Chevrolet Traverse in front of them was braking hard and swerving all over the road.
He said that as they traveled southbound on Rice, he (CLB) honked his vehicle’s horn and passed the Traverse. CLB continued that he and MRB pulled into the Pawn America, with the Traverse following. He said that the driver of the Traverse took out a handgun, used it to smash a window of the Cherokee, and pointed it at them. He said that the man then fled in the Traverse. MRB had been recording the incident on her phone. She said that the driver of the Traverse tried to take the phone from her. She said that when she resisted, he put the gun in her face and told her that he would shoot her, saying, “I’m gonna end you, you motherfuck.” The driver’s side window of the Cherokee had been smashed.
Cuts to CLB’s hands were photographed. A man at the Pawn America approached officers. The man, TDO ([DOB REDACTED]). He said that he had been driving behind both the Cherokee and the Traverse and followed them into the Pawn America lot. He said that he heard yelling about the broken window. He said that he then saw the driver of the Traverse reach into the Cherokee with the gun, which the driver pointed directly at MRB while trying to take her phone. He said that he (TDO) walked toward them, trying to help, and the defendant threatened to shoot him (TDO) as well.
The registered owner of the Cherokee is the defendant, WILLIAM DAVID CRANCER ([DOB REDACTED]). Officers went to his home in Roseville. He initially refused to come out, telling officers to shoot him instead (“shoot me, cock sucker!”). Eventually he came out and was taken into custody. The video recorded by MRB was recovered. It shows the defendant driving very slowly in front of the Cherokee, which honks before passing him. The Cherokee pulls into the Pawn America, and the defendant follows, exits, and points a black handgun at CLB. He uses the gun to smash CLB’s window.
As he and CLB struggle, he twice reaches in with the gun and places it by CLB’s neck and head. He then walks around to MRB, who is still recording, and says, “can I see that?” The video then cuts out. The defendant gave consent for officers to search his home for the handgun. A black Springfield Armory handgun was found in a bag on a counter in the kitchen, along with an empty magazine. A second magazine, identical but loaded, was found in the living room. Photographs were taken, and the items were recovered.
