On March 8, 2026 at approximately 7:31 P.M., Austin Police Department Detective Derek Ellis was called to assist officers with a search warrant of the residence of TI REH, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant. The defendant had been arrested earlier in the day during an investigation of a driving while impaired and child endangerment incident (see ICR 26103508). During the investigation, the defendant told officers that a three-year old child [NAME REDACTED], alone. Officers entered the residence, confirmed that there were no children present, and saw a rifle and rifle case in a bedroom closet in plain view as there is no door.
Officers left the apartment and later discovered that the defendant is prohibited from possessing firearms. Detective Ellis reviewed the defendant’s criminal history and confirmed that he was convicted on April 15, 2014 of Third Degree Assault – Substantial Bodily Harm, in violation of MN Statute §609.223, subd. 1, which is a crime of violence (see Ramsey County District Court file number 62-CR-13-8693). Detective Ellis obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s apartment, located in the 1400 block of 6th Avenue NW in the City of Austin, County of Mower.
The warrant was signed by the Honorable Judge Jeffrey Kritzer and served on March 8, 2026 at approximately 9:06 P.M. Detective Ellis knocked on the defendant’s door, announced police, but received no answer. Detective Ellis then unlocked the apartment door with the keys obtained from the defendant when he was arrested earlier in the day and found the residence unoccupied. Detective Ellis and Austin Police Department Officer Skyler Thomas searched the residence, and located the following items in the sole bedroom in the apartment:.22 bolt action Ruger rifle with Bushnell Banner 2 scope in soft brown/camouflage mossy zip up case (serial number 835-58332) – corner of bedroom closet, unloaded, not secured.22 Ruger break action rifle with sling (serial number AD349795) – corner of bedroom closet, unloaded, not secured Numerous loose,.22 ammunition – found in a Blue JanSport fanny pack, located in the closet underneath the.22 rifles in a black backpack One box of CCI standard velocity.22LR ammunition containing 31 rounds – found in a small camouflage bag Two boxes of.22LR CCI ammunition – found in a Bass Pro Shop bag Officers also located a medical document showing a drug test for a patient “Ti Reh” in the camouflage bag along with a pay stub from Hormel Foods in the name of “Ti Reh” with the address of officers’ current location.
Officers also found a receipt for three boxes of CCI.22 ammunition from Cabela’s in Owatonna inside the Bass Pro Shop bag. Additionally, officers noted that there was male clothing in the bedroom where the items were found, a jacket with the defendant’s name on it, and mail in a windowsill with the defendant’s name and address on it. Detective Ellis spoke with the defendant in the Mower County Jail. Detective Ellis read the defendant the Miranda warning, and the defendant agreed to speak with him.
