Marion Funches

On October 5, 2024, University of Minnesota Police officers were working a Gopher football detail while operating a fully marked squad. At 11:02 P.M., officers responded to the Minnesota Lot, located at 420 25th Ave SE, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, for a report of theft from motor vehicle and financial transaction card fraud. Officers made contact with the victim, [NAME REDACTED] at 6:00 P.M., she left her purse inside her friend’s vehicle (MN plate KXS171) while attending the football game.

The victim [NAME REDACTED] was locked. At 10:20 P.M., the victim returned to the vehicle and discovered that her purse had been moved from underneath the front passenger seat and that its contents had been dumped inside the vehicle. The victim reported that her USAA credit card, American Express credit card, and Minnesota driver’s license were missing. At 9:44 P.M., the victim received a text message alert from USAA regarding an attempted charge of $462.00 at the Target store located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota.

USAA declined the transaction. However, a subsequent charge in the amount of $462.00 was successfully processed on the victim’s American Express card at the same Target location. The victim immediately locked her accounts and reported the transaction as fraudulent. No additional losses from the vehicle were reported. On October 14, 2024, officers submitted a request through the Target Law Enforcement Portal for surveillance video from Target store T16015, located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, related to the transaction occurring on October 5, 2024, at approximately 9:44 P.M., using the victim’s American Express card ending in 1007. On October 15, 2024, at 3:14 P.M., Target Asset Protection provided surveillance video and a transaction receipt.

The video shows a Black male, later identified as FUNCHES, MARION ([DOB REDACTED], hereafter “Defendant”), purchasing two $200 Visa gift cards and one $50 PlayStation Network gift card using the victim’s stolen credit card. The Defendant is then observed exiting the store and entering a stolen Cadillac Escalade (related case UM 24-287483) before driving away. No other individuals are observed with the Defendant either inside the store or near the vehicle. On October 16, 2024, officers captured still-frame images of the Defendant from the Target surveillance video.

These images were compiled into a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Crime Alert and disseminated to law enforcement agencies throughout the metro area. A copy of the Crime Alert is attached to this report. Within approximately ten minutes of dissemination, the Defendant was positively identified by a Saint Paul Police Commander. The Commander also provided an active probable cause pickup/BOLO for the Defendant in connection with theft from motor vehicle and credit card fraud incidents at Target stores.

The photographs included in the BOLO are an exact match to the individual observed in the Target surveillance video, including distinctive white and black basketball shoes worn by the Defendant. The Defendant is currently out of custody.