On December 7, 2025, at approximately 11:58 PM, Richfield police officers responded to Sonesta Simply Suites, located at 351 77th St. W, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on report of a theft. Officers arrived on scene and spoke with the reporting party, who was one of the hotel’s employees. The reporting party told officers that between 10:00 and 10:20 AM, a male, subsequently identified as JOE DARRELL EDWARDS JR., [DOB REDACTED], hereafter Defendant, had reached behind the front counter and taken the reporting party’s room key for room #125. Defendant then went up to room #125, entered, took the reporting party’s wallet, and left out the hotel’s back door.
Officers reviewed hotel security footage, which depicted the events as described by the reporting party. Officers observed Defendant was wearing a black varsity jacket with the letter “G” on the front and had diamond stud earrings. Two days later, on December 9, at approximately 12:23 PM, Richfield police officers again responded to the same location, on report that Defendant was back on the premises. Officers arrived, made contact with the owner of the hotel, and located Defendant in Room #112. Defendant was wearing the same black varsity jacket and had the same earrings as in the security footage from December 7. The owner informed officers that Room #112 was not reserved at the time and was being cleaned.
The owner confirmed that Defendant was not listed as a guest or registered to any room at the hotel. Officers arrested Defendant, and during a search incident to arrest located two Sonesta Suites room keys on Defendant’s person. At present, Defendant is in custody.
