Complainant is Maple Grove Police Department Detective John Bueckers. Complainant states that on August 16, 2024, officers responded to the Walmart in the city of Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota, regarding a theft report. The reporting party, S. Wenstad, reported that two males pushed a cart full of merchandise out of the garden center exit of the store, without paying for any of the merchandise. The males then got into a white SUV with MN license plate JSZ*** and picked up a female individual.
The total value of the merchandise stolen was $789.00. This incident was captured by video surveillance and provided to law enforcement. Investigators found the registered owner of the vehicle was Miaya Simon. Investigators reviewed Simon's facebook page and observed a picture of her wearing the same clothing she was wearing in the Walmart video surveillance. Investigators went to Simon's residence and spoke with her. Simon advised she was with her boyfriend, MARREON TERAZE BARGE [DOB REDACTED], and BARGE's little brother who is a juvenile.
Simon verified it was her in the video surveillance and stated she did not know why they stole and she was tight on money. Simon stated she was ashamed that they stole and BARGE was currently in the Wright County Jail. Simon stated she distracted the store employee about plants outside and it was her idea to steal. Investigators located a recorded phone call from the Wright County Jail involving BARGE and Simon after they spoke with Simon. In the recorded call, Simon tells BARGE she spoke with law enforcement and that she identified him.
BARGE told her she should not have spoken to police and told Simon that she needed to "get that Maple Grove s*** off my back." BARGE told Simon to stop giving his name and told her to give a fake name or tell investigators that she lied. BARGE then said it wasn't a big deal and that he stole some legos and it wasn't even over $1,000 worth. BARGE then told Simon she should have taken one for the team.
