On January 15, 2026, at approximately 9:15 A.M., Officer Casanova was dispatched to Enterprise Rent a Car in the City of Baxter, Crow Wing County, for a report of a vehicle theft. JL reported that Nathan Michael Baublitz [DOB REDACTED] rented a vehicle and had never returned it. Officer Casanova spoke to JL and learned that Baublitz rented the vehicle on November 25, 2025, and Baublitz provided his driver's license to rent the vehicle. Baublitz attempted to put a card on file with Enterprise that was in Baublitz's name but the card was declined.
Enterprise did not need the card for the rental due to Baublitz's insurance covering it. The rental agreement ended December 15, 2025. JL was unable to get ahold of Baublitz to see if he was going to renew the agreement and had lost all contact with him. The vehicle was a 2025 Ram 1500 bearing WY license 01T405A. The VIN number was also provided to Officer Casanova. The MSRP value of the vehicle was $59,590. On December 23, 2025, Enterprise sent a demand for location of the overdue vehicle letter to Baublitz and also emailed him a copy of the letter.
Enterprise had been able to get in contact with Baublitz's father but was still unable to get a response from Baublitz. JL advised they were unable to request a track on the vehicle until the vehicle had been entered as stolen. However, the vehicle was still being used because the odometer was going up. Officer Cassanova noted that WY license 01T405A did not come back to a vehicle, however, the VIN provided by Enterprise came back to the same truck bearing WY license 01-405A. JL was able to provide an address given to Enterprise which was located on Maple Grove Road in Cloquet, Minnesota.
The vehicle was entered as stolen into NCIC. Officer Casanova called the Carlton County Sheriff's Office who advised they have had contact the last several days with Baublitz for check fraud. Officer Casanova was then advised that Baublitz's residence was located in St. Louis County. Officer Casanova got in contact with St. Louis County who advised they would send a deputy over to the residence to check for the truck. Later that day, Deputy Johnson of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office went to Baublitz's residence and observed the truck in the yard to the west of the residence.
Deputy Johnson made contact with Baublitz's father, SB (fully identified in the police reports). SB stated he knew Baublitz rented the truck and that it was supposed to be returned a while ago. SB did not know why Baublitz had not returned the truck yet. SB went and got Baublitz from his bedroom and brought him downstairs. Baublitz stated he got into an accident in the Baxter area with his girlfirned and they went to Enterprise and rented the white truck. Baublitz stated he knew the truck was supposed to be returned a couple weeks ago.
