On or about January 7, 2026, Moorhead Police Department Officer M. Tol responded to a report of an individual by the name of ERIC ALLAN LEMER [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the Defendant, being in possession of a stolen vehicle near the Bison Plains Lodge in Moorhead, located in Clay County, MN. The Defendant was located in that area near the vehicle, and was placed under arrest. Prior to the arrest, the vehicle, a silver 1996 Dodge R25, had been located by law enforcement at the Bison Plains Lodge, and was being turned over to it's rightful owner.
The vehicle was reported stolen by the owner on January 5, 2026, and was taken from a parking lot in Moorhead, located in Clay County, MN. The vehicle had last been seen early in the day on January 5, 2026. After locating the vehicle, law enforcement was able to observe a temporary registration tag displayed on the vehicle issued out of North Dakota. After checking the registration tag, it was determined that the expiration date, make, and VIN number on the tag had been altered to appear currently valid, and issued to the vehicle it was displayed on.
It was also noted that the permit number listed had been issued to an individual with the initials C. R. A., but was obtained using the email address that begins with the letters 'ericlemer'. The tag was removed, and was found to be wrapped around the license plate for a different vehicle that had previously been reported stolen out of Fargo. The Defendant arrived on the scene in a second vehicle bearing an identical temporary registration tag, hereinafter the Defendant's vehicle, and inside the Defendant's vehicle were multiple items of property that were reported to be inside the stolen vehicle when it was taken.
Law enforcement placed the Defendant under arrest soon after. The Defendant stated that he had purchased the vehicle several years ago and could produce a bill of sale. 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.
