On or about June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:07 A.M., officers with the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department were dispatched to the Grand Casino Mille Lacs, located in Onamia, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, on a report of a theft. An officer made contact with Male-1, an adult male fully identified in police reports, who reported that his electric bicycle was stolen from casino property. Male-1 stated that he was an employee of the casino, and had parked it in front of the Bingo entrance prior to his work shift at approximately 11:00 P.M. Male-1 described the e-bike as an XL Power Bike which had aggressive mountain bike tires, a headlight pointed down at the fender, and having a white stripe.
Male-1 stated that the e-bike was worth approximately $1,300. The officer spoke with casino security staff, who provided surveillance camera footage. On it, the officer observed an unknown female taking the e-bike from the bingo entrance and riding it some distance away on Ataage Drive. The officer observed a black GMC Yukon drive from the casino parking lot and stopping near the e-bike. The officer observed the driver, an unknown male, exit the vehicle and assist the unknown female with loading the e-bike into the Yukon.
Tribal dispatch advised the officer that the registered owners of the vehicle were Female-1, an adult female fully identified in police reports, and ROBERT DARRELL BOETTCHER [DOB REDACTED]. The officer obtained a prior jail booking photograph of BOETTCHER and determined that the unknown male driver of the Yukon was in fact BOETTCHER. The officer obtained a phone number for BOETTCHER and called it. The officer spoke with BOETTCHER, who denied being at the casino and stated that one of his friends was driving the Yukon.
The officer advised BOETTCHER that the e-bike was stolen, and asked BOETTCHER to have his friend return the e- bike. BOETTCHER stated he will “see what’s up” and call the officer back. BOETTCHER never contacted the officer. A KOPS alert was issued in an attempt to locate the vehicle and recover the e-bike. Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s deputies advised that the vehicle last registered a hit on automated license plate readers on Main Street in Onamia, Minnesota. Plate readers in Princeton, Minnesota, did not record the vehicle as of 4:30 A.M. The following day, June 4, 2026, at approximately 5:30 P.M., Tribal officers were notified that a Sherburne County Deputy had the Yukon on a traffic stop, and identified BOETTCHER as the sole occupant of the vehicle.
BOETTCHER was taken into custody in Elk River, Minnesota, and transported by the Sherburne Deputy to Princeton, Minnesota. A Tribal officer met the Sherburne Deputy and took custody of BOETTCHER. The officer provided BOETTCHER with a Miranda warning, and BOETTCHER agreed to give a statement. This time, BOETTCHER acknowledged being at the casino, and was informed by a female that accompanied him that she needed help picking up her bike. BOETTCHER stated that he helped the female load the e-bike into his truck, and denied knowing that it was stolen.
