On 10/10/2025 an individual attempted to buy a Maytag brand washer at the Menards located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NW in the City of Coon Rapids in the County of Anoka. The individual, later identified as Andrew Clifford Ruse ([DOB REDACTED]), herein Defendant, passed a check, made out to Menards, and provided a MN temporary paper license with the name "Curtis Calmer Nelson," [DOB REDACTED]. As he was attempting to pass the check, he was recognized by an individual in Menard's loss prevention, C. S., who contacted the Coon Rapids Police Department.
C. S. Was able to identify him from several previous incidents. C. S. Attempted to stall Defendant, but he left on the pretext of going to get a different form of payment. The check was for $1032.98, and showed the bank as being the State Bank out of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. There does not appear to be any such bank. The check was printed on stock paper and the ink has leaked through to the back of the page. The name on the check is "Ardath Calmer Nelson." Officers determined that Ardath Calmer Nelson is deceased and the number for Curtis Calmer Nelson is invalid.
Officer also looked up the address that is listed on the check, [ADDRESS REDACTED] NW, Elk River, MN, 55330 which is actively for sale. The MN DL number listed on the temporary paperwork is also invalid. While investigating the incident, Investigators identified three other attempts at passing fraudulent checks by the Defendant. On 9/13/2025, Defendant passed a check valued $271.80. On 9/14/2025, Defendant passed a check valued at $565.82. On 9/15/2025, Defendant passed a check valued at $634.06. All of these checks were from an account of NW, the sister of an associate of Defendant.
NW told officers that her checkbook had gone missing in September, after she had given a ride to Defendant. There were insufficient funds in the account when Defendant attempted to pass the checks, and the account had therefore gone into the negative. The total aggregate value of the four forged checks was $2,504.57.
