On March 8, 2026, around 9:07pm, Fridley officers responded to the Walmart at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in Fridley, Anoka County, MN, regarding a theft in progress. The loss prevention employee reported that four males were not scanning items at the self-checkout and passed all points of purchase without paying for the items. One of the males was identified as CHESTER JOHN BYRD [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein. He was observed walking past all points of purchase with a cart full of unpaid items after making no attempt to pay for them.
The total value of the stolen merchandise was $643.99. Defendant was previously convicted on 10/22/25 in Hennepin County (••-CR-••-••••) of Felony Financial Transaction Card Fraud under Minn. Stat. 609.821 and on 12/19/22 in Hennepin County (27-CR- 22-11442) of Felony Theft under Minn. Stat. 609.52. He is currently on probation for the card fraud and a Felony 3rd Degree Assault (••-CR-••-••••). Based on DOC's Statewide Supervision System (SSS), it appears he is also on supervised release from prison for prior drug and counterfeiting/fraud convictions.
Defendant has at least 12 theft-related convictions since 2009, five of which are felonies. Since 1998, he has accumulated a total of 12 felony convictions for various crimes, including card fraud, theft, assault, drugs, receiving stolen property, and fleeing in a motor vehicle. He also has multiple convictions for providing false names to law enforcement. It is estimated that Defendant's criminal history score is 6, making the presumptive sentence a commitment to prison. As of the filing of this complaint, Defendant is in the custody of the Anoka County Jail.
