On 01/08/2026 at approximately 1808 hours, Officers responded to a report of a robbery at a Menards located at 16500 96th Ave N in Maple Grove, Hennepin County. Officers arrived and met with the Loss Prevention Officer, Victim herein. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was observing an individual, later identified as CURTIS JAMES YOUNG, [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, on store security footage. Victim stated that he recognized Defendant from prior theft incidents. Victim stated that he observed Defendant place store merchandise, including a knife and a camera, in his clothing and made his way to the store exit.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] went to confront Defendant and stop him from stealing. Victim stated that as Defendant walked past the cashiers and headed for the exit, he approached Defendant and introduced himself as the store’s Loss Prevention Officer. Victim stated that as he approached Defendant just before he exited, he could see a knife in Defendant’s hand. VICTIM [NAME REDACTED] COULD SEE WAS THE SILVER BLADE OF THE KNIFE, NOT THE HANDLE. VICTIM STATED THAT HE HEARD DEFENDANT FLIP OPEN THE KNIFE AS HE APPROACHED HIM. VICTIM STATED THAT DEFENDANT KEPT THE KNIFE AT HIS SIDE AND THE HANDLE IN HIS HAND THAT WAS COVERED BY HIS JACKET. Victim [NAME REDACTED] did not make PHYSICAL contact with Defendant and Defendant proceeded to exit the business.
VICTIM STATED THAT WHEN HE ASKED DEFENDANT TO RETURN THE MERCHANDISE, DEFENDANT SIMPLY STATED, “I DON’T KNOW YOU” AND CONTINUED TOWARDS THE EXIT. VICTIM STATED THAT HE BELIEVED IF HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE TO DEFENDANT THAT DEFENDANT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A “JAB” AT VICTIM. Victim stated that Defendant then fled the parking lot in a vehicle and described the vehicle to the Officer. Victim showed the Officer store security footage which had captured the whole incident and showed the Officer where the Defendant took the items from and what items were taken.
Officers then placed a KOPS alert on the vehicle that Defendant fled in. At approximately 2311 hours, Officers located and conducted a stop of the vehicle with Defendant in it. OFFICERS LOCATED TWO KNIVES ON DEFENDANT’S PERSON DURING A WEAPONS FRISK. ONE OF THE KNIVES LOCATED ON DEFENDANT’S PERSON WAS A FOLDING KNIFE WITH A SILVER BLADE. Officers arrested Defendant and in a post-Miranda interview Defendant admitted to entering the Menards and stealing items but denied stealing a knife or having a knife on him.
Officers obtained a search warrant for Defendant’s vehicle and in it found multiple knives, the camera, and other items believed to be stolen. Given the nature of the crime and to ensure Defendant’s appearance, a warrant is requested.
