Defendant entered the home without permission and stole items from within the home, to include a box with cash. The homeowners woke up around 01:30 due to their dogs barking. When recognizing that the dogs were not barking because of one resident's return, the camera footage from the home was reviewed. The footage showed an unknown person with a hood up and face mask on enter the home through the basement door and then leaving about three minutes later. Ultimately, the residents realized that a large fruit box containing four Sentry Safe boxes were missing.
The safe boxes all had at least $400 in them and were connected to a sports team concession stand. Additionally, a wallet with credit cards was also discovered to be missing. As part of the investigation, DNA samples were taken from all of the residents and swabs of areas likely touched by Defendant were taken as well. Around 08:20 on 1/28/2025 one of the stolen credit cards was being used at Target in Fridley with a purchase of $573.04 and another for $378.43. The security footage of these transactions were obtained.
The suspect appeared to be a black male and part of his clothing included a hooded sweatshirt that he wore up and a facemask. An iPad purchased at the Fridley Target with the stolen credit card was activated on 2/1/2025, registered to cedric.drake@iclcoud.com. Further investigation into this resulted in Lester Jamison‐Drake's name being connected with the account. An investigation into Drake by St. Paul Police included a search of his residence and a recovery of two USB drives. A report of a burglary out of Edina that seemed similar to the Big Lake burglary was received.
In that case the suspect vehicle registered to the cousin of Defendant. Defendant's phone also was found to have been in the area of the burglary at the time of the burglary. According to a vehicle tracker, a different vehicle associated with Defendant's movements was in the Albertville area on 3/2/2025 where another burglary occurred. A search warrant was executed two days later and items from some of the burglaries were located. Defendant was arrested at a different location and a DNA sample was taken.
A Listerine bottle that was found at the site of the Big Lake burglary was deemed to be foreign to the scene was tested for DNA. None of the profiles matched the residents. Also found nearby as part of a motor vehicle tampering incident where items were also stolen was a glove. Due to the overlapping timing and close proximity of these two incidents they were thought to be connected. DNA belonging to Defendant was found on inside of the glove. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
