Chase Anthony Lee James

At around 2:30 AM on May 15, 2026, officers went to 1871 7th Street East, St. Paul, Ramsey County on a squatter who had broken a window. Officers had been at the apartment building earlier in the evening to clear out squatters who did not live there. Officers spoke to AG who said he and BN were checking on the vacant apartments for squatters who were not supposed to be inside the apartments. BN entered an apartment unit and saw CHASE ANTHONY LEE JAMES ([DOB redacted]) run into a bedroom. BN yelled for AG who was outside the building.

AG was looking inside a window when James broke it and crawled out. Part of the broken glass cut AG. AG did not need stitches from his cut. AG chased James to another building. Officers found James hiding in an apartment at 1891 7th Street East. Officers identified James, confirmed he was the man who had broken the window, and discovered he had warrants out of Wisconsin and Dakota County. Officer found powder inside folded tinfoil James had in his possession. James was advised of his constitutional rights and agreed to speak to police.

James said he met someone who let him into the unit of a building. After a few hours a man entered the unit. The man would not let James leave, so James punched the window to get away. James fled to his mother’s apartment, and she told him to hide. James said he had fentanyl inside the tinfoil. AG is a contractor and said it would cost around $1500 to repair the window, but since they need to get the window fixed by May 16, 2026 it will more likely cost closer to $2500.