On April 24th, 2026, MICHAEL L. VANG, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter "Defendant," was incarcerated at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Lino Lakes and assigned to an Institution Community Work Crew (ICWC). While assigned to a Minimum-Security Housing Unit, Incarcerated persons are required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracking Bracelet. Defendant was wearing a GPS Tracking Bracelet in accordance with being assigned to a Minimum-Security Housing Unit as well as a Work Crew that is assigned work tasks outside of the secure grounds at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Lino Lakes.
On April 24th, 2026, at around 6:30 A.M., Defendant arrived at his assigned work location for the day, which was the Plymouth Community Center located at 14800 34th Avenue North, Plymouth, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Defendant arrived with other ICWC Crews to complete their task of taking down the Dome at the Plymouth Community Center. At approximately 9:08 A.M., an alert indicating Defendant's GPS Tracking Bracelet had been cut and removed was received through VeriTracks---the web-based application utilized to monitor and maintain the GPS Tracking Bracelets of those assigned to Minimum Housing Units and ICWC Work Crews.
At approximately 11:20 A.M., the Minnesota Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit Investigators arrived in the area of the Plymouth Community Center and also the approximate area where the GPS Tracking Bracelet was last located. After a brief search of the area, Defendant's GPS Tracking Bracelet was found in the ditch on the south side of Highway 55 and west of Interstate 494. At this time, a Felony Arrest Warrant was issued for Defendant. Investigators were able to locate a vehicle that was seen in the area where Defendant was last seen, and that had picked him up and drove away from the Plymouth Community Center.
Investigators were able to identify the registered owner and locate phone calls made by Defendant to the husband of the registered owner. At approximately 1:37 P.M., investigators located this same vehicle parked in the area of [ADDRESS REDACTED], Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. At approximately 6:00 P.M., investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for the address. Upon execution of the search warrant, Defendant was observed running from [APT REDACTED] to [APT REDACTED]. At this time, the Saint Paul Police Department’s SWAT Team was activated and arrived on scene where they drafted and obtained their own search warrant for this new address and were able to take Defendant into custody.
On April 29, 2026, an investigator conducted a recorded Miranda Interview with Defendant at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Oak Park Heights. After reading Defendant his Miranda Rights, Defendant waived his right to an attorney and agreed to speak regarding this incident. Defendant admitted to being incarcerated at Lino Lakes due to a conviction for felony 2nd Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance. He admitted being required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracking Bracelet, and that he "cut it" at some point while in Plymouth on a work crew.
