On or about January 24, 2026, Moorhead Police Department Officer E. Bozovsky responded to a report of a shoplifting that occurred earlier in the morning on the same day, around 8:00 A.M. At the Runnings in Moorhead, located at 1011 19th St. S., in Clay County, MN. A Runnings employee reported that around that time, two males entered the store and started placing items in a shopping cart. One of the males, later identified as LOREN JAMES SMITH JR. ([DOB redacted]), hereinafter the Defendant, then exited the store and moved a vehicle, specifically a 2003 Jeep Cherokee with MN plate number RHT144, to the back of the store by the north loading door.
The other male then took the cart and items through the back of the store and exited through the north loading door with the items. No payment was rendered for the items, and neither male had permission to take them. Much of the incident was captured via store security footage, and photos were taken of the vehicle used to retrieve the items. A receipt noting the items that were stolen was provided to law enforcement, including two coats, a hoodie, a chainsaw, and a 'Shoe M. Vista Energy ESD Carb 12EE'. The total value of the items stolen was reported to be $2,076.96. It was later discovered that an item matching the stolen chainsaw was listed for sale on Facebook marketplace by a profile containing the name 'Loren Smith' as well as another name.
After comparing photos of the male identified as the Defendant from security videos captured at Runnings with prior booking photos of the Defendant, the two appear to be the same person. Ofc. Bozovsky later made contact with the Defendant at his residence, and the Defendant agreed to speak with her. The Defendant was placed under arrest and during the process, stated that he was the individual who placed the chainsaw for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The Defendant additionally stated he no longer had the items.
