On October 8, 2025, at approximately 12:42 P.M., while in the City of Duluth, St. Louis County, State of Minnesota, a Duluth Police Community Officer took a call reporting theft from a motor vehicle. Officer Meyer spoke to the reporting party over the phone and verbally identified them as Neil Joseph Brown, DOB; 02/15/1992. Brown explained that his vehicle was entered between 09/05/2025 at an unknown time and again on 10/07/2025 at 5:00 P.M. Brown stated his vehicle is a Black 2023 Subaru Crosstrek bearing MN plates 4CP688. Brown believed he left the vehicle unlocked as there were no signs of forced entry.
Brown stated that taken from the center console was a Speedway gas gift card, a Shell gas gift card, a Kwik Trip gas gift card, AAA card, and a black leather bifold wallet. Brown stated the Shell gift card had a balance of $8.40, the Speedway gift card had a balance of $50.00, and the Kwik Trip gift card had a balance of $431.37. Brown explained that the card number on his Kwik Trip gift card ending in 5006. Brown stated he checked the balance, and it was now empty. With this information Officer sent an email to the Kwik Trip financial crimes department on 10/08/2025 to obtain video footage of the card being used.
Officer received a response on 10/09/2025 containing three separate videos, still photos of the transactions, and receipts of the card being used. In the response email officer was provided with the rewards ID that was used on the first purchase. The rewards account that was used was under the name JOSEPH JAMES TYNJALA [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein. The Duluth Police Department has past encounters with the defendant and the officer identified him using his prior mugshot to confirm this was the defendant in the video footage.
On September 26, 2025, the defendant entered KWIK TRIP property at [ADDRESS REDACTED] on a bicycle at approximately 7:05 A.M., he left the bicycle on the sidewalk and entered the store. The defendant checked out at register 3. It was at this point the defendant used his phone number to attach his rewards account to the transaction. The first transaction was for a total of $15.14. The defendant then made a second transaction, did not attach his rewards, and purchased 10 cartons of cigarettes totaling $119.40. The defendant then exits the store and leaves the property on his bicycle at approximately 7:10 A.M. On September 29, 2025, at approximately 11:54 A.M., a Brown 2011 Chevrolet Equinox enters KWIK TRIP property located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Superior, WI 54880. The equinox is bearing MN plates LBZ331. The driver exits the vehicle and enters the store.
It is not the defendant. The subject approaches register 3 and requests to buy another gift card using the remaining balance on the stolen card. The subject completes the purchase for a charge of $296.83. The subject then leaves the store and exits the property in the Equinox. The Equinox vehicle comes back to a registered owner of "THE TITLE LOAN COMPANY" located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Superior, WI 54880. Officer contacted the number for the company listed online searching for information on who would be driving the vehicle.
