Tailor Lee Hepner

On 03/31/26 at about 1826 hours, a Roseville Police Officer was working contracted overtime at Walmart at [address omitted] in Roseville, Ramsey County. Walmart Loss Prevention personnel informed the officer that they had tried to stop a suspect who had stolen food, but the suspect failed to stop. The officer reviewed a CCTV image of the suspect, checked the area around the store, and spotted the suspect standing next to a white SUV that was occupied by a female driver. The officer spoke to the suspect and identified him as Tailor Lee HEPNER ([DOB redacted]). HEPNER immediately said that he tried to pay for the food.

As the officer spoke to HEPNER, the female in the vehicle approached and said that HEPNER had placed a small blue container in her vehicle and asked her to hold it for him. In the container were small baggies and folded tinfoil containing suspected narcotics. The officer arrested HEPNER. HEPNER said that it was fentanyl in the container. HEPNER also had an active warrant. Police spoke to CM further. She explained that she sells necklaces on Facebook Marketplace and had arranged to meet HEPNER there to sell him some.

HEPNER was looking at her items when he saw the squad approaching. HEPNER then dropped the container into her vehicle and asked her to hold it for him. The substances in the container later tested positive for fentanyl with a collective net weight of 2.9g. The officer Mirandized HEPNER, but HEPNER said he did not understand his rights. Once at the LEC, however, HEPNER began speaking to the officer and said he got the lady involved in the incident because he had to try something when he saw the officer coming.

HEPNER also said he had mental health issues and that fentanyl helps him not hear the voices in his head.