On July 27, 2025, Blaine Police were dispatched to Marshalls at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in Blaine, Anoka County on the report of a male unable to stand and acting odd outside the store. The reporting party described the suspect as a black male wearing a blue shirt, black/blue baseball hat. Officer Johnson arrived and located a male matching the description punching traffic cones in a cordoned off area, knocking them over. At one point the male lost his balance and fell during the punch. Officer Johnson approached the male who told the officer he was "shadowboxing." The male was difficult to understand but verbally identified himself as "Tony" or "Anthony Williams" with a date of birth of 09/18/1965. Officer Johnson ran the name and learned that Anthony Williams was an alias for Lamon Cotrell Gray [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, who had a sign and release warrant out of Hennepin County.
Johnson observed the DVS photo for Lamon Gray and it matched the male Johnson was speaking with. Officer Johnson returned to the defendant who continued to identify himself as "Williams". Johnson arrested the defendant for false information and during a search incident to arrest located numerous items from Marshalls with the tags intact inside a black backpack the defendant had with him. The defendant was transported to the Anoka County Jail for booking on the misdemeanor charge of giving false information to a police officer.
Upon jail staff removing the defendant from the squad car, Johnson observed a small piece of paper partially tucked underneath the seat where the defendant had been sitting. Inside the paper, Johnson located a small plastic baggie containing a brownish-white substance that was tested at the forensic laboratory and was positive for 0.082 grams containing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and xylazine. After hearing this was located, the defendant kept exclaiming he should have swallowed it. Officer Johnson later reviewed the squad video and observed the defendant digging in his socks and then observed the lottery ticket paper partially stuffed under the seat in the video.
Detective Vang was contacted by Marshalls' loss prevention regarding the items located in the defendant's backpack. Vang made contact with Marshalls Loss Prevention who wished to pursue charges and provided a report and surveillance video that showed the defendant inside the store making selections and concealing items into the backpack and then the defendant walks through the security towers and exits the store without ever offering payment for the merchandise. The value of the items stolen is $208.90. A complaint warrant is requested in this matter.
Defendant has other warrants and is not expected to respond to a summons.
