On May 31, 2026, Officer Hengtgen was dispatched to Iron Bear Tobacco, [address omitted], White Bear Lake, County of Ramsey, on a Burglary. LLA, employee, reported a Burglary occurred at the business overnight. LLA arrived at the business in the morning on May 31, 2026, and found the rear door to the business forced open, the power to the business off, and the breakers inside the fuse box turned off. LLA noted several display cases open with several boxes of merchandise missing including Geek Bar Hookah vaporizers, Geek Bar vaporizer pods, assorted brands of THC edibles, assorted brands of mushroom vaporizers, Road Trip mushroom chocolate bars, and Geek Bar vaporizer systems.
LLA located several empty boxes of merchandise outside the rear door of the business. The rear door to the business appeared to have been pried open. The door was broken and the hardware was scattered on the floor. ZZD, employee at Iron Bear Tobacco, showed Officer Hengtgen surveillance video from May 30, 2026 at 11:41 P.M. That showed three males attempting to make entry into the business through the front door. Interior surveillance video showed the three males made entry into the business through the rear door at approximately 11:48 P.M. The three males spent several minutes inside the business grabbing items from different display cases and taking merchandise.
Officer Hengtgen recognized one of the male suspects on surveillance video as ANTHONY JAMES PRIDGEN, [DOB redacted]. PRIDGEN was a suspect in a different felony investigation that involved the theft of nicotine delivery devices. During that burglary, PRIDGEN is dressed in gray shorts, a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket, black footwear, and is carrying a black backpack with brown trim. In the video, Officer Hengten observed Suspect #2 setting down a large hammer into his waistband prior to leaving.
Officer Hengtgen compared surveillance video of suspect with known photos of PRIDGEN and identified him as one of the male suspects in the burglary at the Iron Bear Tobacco. Officer Hengtgen found PRIDGEN’s address as 3561 White Bear Avene, White Baer Lake. Officer Hengtgen drafted and obtained a search warrant to search [address omitted]. The residence was searched on May 31, 2026. PRIDGEN was not at home at the time of the execution of the search warrant. A resident of the home, DX, directed officers to PRIDGEN’s room.
Officer Hengtgen observed items taken during the burglary. A black backpack with brown trim seen on surveillance during the burglary was on a mattress. The backpack contained multiple items taken during the Burglary including Geek Bar vape packaging, Beez Wax, THC edibles, and Mushroom Vapes. Inside a white Nike shoebox, there were additional Geek Bar and Mushroom Vape packaging stolen during the burglary. PRIDGEN’s room had a birth certificate, student identification, court documents and a bank card with his name.
