On April 22, 2026, West St. Paul police officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a jewelry store in West St. Paul, Dakota County, MN. At 12:59 P.M., an officer spoke with the reporting party (“RP”) who said that a male, Defendant DONALD RAYMOND YANCY [DOB REDACTED], had come in to have his watch fixed and then paid in cash from his wallet. He left the store but then returned saying that he had left his wallet behind. RP informed him that his wallet was not at the store. Defendant became agitated and left.
Officers did not locate Defendant at that time. At 1:24 P.M., RP called officers and advised that Defendant was back in the store. Officers arrived and spoke with Defendant outside the store. He said that he needed his watch fixed again and thought he lost his wallet on the bus. Defendant was advised to not to go back into the store. At 1:43 P.M., RP again called to advise officers that the store was missing a display of wedding bands. Another employee had observed Defendant on surveillance camera reaching over a display case.
The employee couldn’t see what Defendant was doing but it looked like he was putting something under his shirt. Defendant then took that item from under his shirt and put it in his backpack. The employee believed the item was a laptop. After Defendant had left the store, RP and the employee realized the wedding band display board was missing. One of the rings from the board was found on the floor by the checkout counter. Officers located and arrested Defendant. The wedding band display board was located in his backpack.
The wedding band display board is valued at $1,348.99. Defendant is in custody.
