On January 21, 2026, at 10:50 P.M., officers with the Eden Prairie Police Department were on patrol on Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers observed a stalled vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. Officers approached the vehicle and found that it was unoccupied. The vehicle registered to Valeria Anne Bannon-Ahola [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”) with a listed address in Eden Prairie (“the Residence”). Shortly thereafter, officers responded to a gas station (“the Gas Station”) located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on report of a vehicle theft.
Officers went to the gas station and spoke with the owner (“Victim”) of the vehicle. Victim told officers that he left his vehicle on and running at the Gas Station. The owner stated a female suspect got into the vehicle and drove away. A description of the female suspect was provided. Officers drove to the Residence and located Victim’s vehicle in the driveway. Officers brought Victim [NAME REDACTED]. Victim [NAME REDACTED] in the driveway was his. The vehicle was still on. Officers approached the Residence and Defendant exited.
Defendant was arrested. Defendant was provided her Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with officers. Defendant stated the following: (1) she was driving her vehicle and it ran out of gas; (2) someone picked her up on the side of the road and dropped her off at the Gas Station; (3) she grabbed a vehicle, while at the Gas Station, so she could get home.
