On or about April 20, 2026, at approximately 8:05 A.M., Itasca County Sheriff’s Deputy Cowan was dispatched to [ADDRESS REDACTED] 164, Deer River, Itasca County, Minnesota, on the report of a stolen trailer. It was reported that an enclosed, white, v-nose trailer was stolen from a job site. The trailer was registered to R. D. A. Deputy Cowan spoke with R. D. A., who stated that the trailer was on the job site on Friday evening. When R. D. A. Returned on the morning of April 20 (Monday), the trailer was gone.
The trailer was filled with his drywall business tools. A week later, R. D. A. Provided law enforcement with a list of the items that were in the trailer. The estimated value of everything that was stolen was $42,036.00. On April 28, 2026, Deputy Cowan went to [ADDRESS REDACTED], Deer River, Itasca County, Minnesota, to speak with JASON ARNOLD CHRISTIE, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter Defendant Christie, regarding the stolen trailer and other stolen items. Upon arrival, Deputy Cowan observed a white, enclosed trailer sitting on the trail that went through the yard.
The trailer was sitting close to a red garage with a lean-to on either side. Deputy Cowan spoke with Defendant Christie and walked around the trailer. Deputy Cowan confirmed the trailer was the same trailer that was stolen. Defendant Christie indicated that someone he knows called and asked to drop off the trailer. Defendant Christie indicated that law enforcement could look around for items that were originally in the trailer but no longer were. Defendant Christie pointed to items that were his and others that were not his.
Defendant Christie grabbed a Dewalt air compressor from the front yard and Deputy Cowan grabbed a Dewalt portable radio that was sitting on a picnic table. Defendant Christie also located a Graco texture sprayer. While walking back towards the house, Deputy Cowan observed some drywall tape and white tape sitting on a metal surface. Defendant Christie indicated that it was not his and the other stuff was a friend’s. Deputy Cowan observed Defendant’s Christie’s pickup truck and noted the tires were a very close match to the tire tracks at the original scene.
Defendant Christie told Deputy N. O’Toole that a friend dropped off the trailer and that they turned around in the field with the SUV and trailer. Deputy Cowan, Deputy O’Toole, and Defendant Christie walked down the trail that leads to a field. While walking, Deputy Cowan observed a truck on the side of the trail that Defendant Christie said was stuck. Defendant Christie showed Deputy Cowan and Deputy O’Toole where the SUV and trailer turned around, but Deputy Cowan did not observe any tire tracks in the longer grass.
Defendant Christie indicated that the stuck truck has no reverse, that LARRY DUANE LUCAS, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter Defendant Lucas, drives the truck and it had been on Defendant Christie’s property for about a month. Deputy Cowan and Deputy O’Toole then spoke with Defendant Lucas, who indicated that he arrived back at Defendant Christie’s residence the day prior. Defendant Lucas noted that he was on parole and residing at Defendant Christie’s residence. Defendant Lucas stated that his truck was stuck.
