M., Elk River Officers Joe Firkus and Officer Bownes took a report of a theft at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NW in the city of Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota. J. B. Reported that some time between October 13, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. And 9:00 A.M. On October 14, 2025, someone entered his detached garage via the service door and stole items. J. B. Noticed that his Makita drill, Ego battery charger, and two Ego batteries were missing. Additionally, there was a five gallon gas can that was not his that was left on top of the workbench.
Officers took DNA samples from the gas can. The replacement value for the items are: Makita Drill: $200 Ego Battery 2.5 amp: $200 Ego Battery 7.5 Amp: $439 Ego Battery Charger: $170 Total replacement value: $1009. Detective Evan Patullo found that Brandan Daniel Pedrys, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter referred to as the defendant, pawned two Ego batteries, one 2.5 amp and one 7.5 amp, at Pawn America in Anoka, MN on October 26, 2025. He later found that the battery charger was also pawned. When Detective Patullo went to the Pawn America, he obtained surveillance video showing the defendant arriving at Pawn America as the front seat passenger in a dark colored SUV. Detective Patullo swabbed the stolen items for DNA. On October 27, 2025, Detective Patullo contacted the defendant saying that he would like to speak with him about the batteries and the charger.
He told Detective Patullo that he purchased the batteries from a friend, but wouldn’t name the friend. The defendant was arrested on October 27, 2025 on an unrelated incident. Detective Patullo obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s DNA and for his phone. On November 6, 2025, the defendant contacted Detective Patullo. He said that the batteries he pawned came from a “Preston” and that “Preston: was calling him wanting the batteries and that he didn’t know the batteries were stolen and wanted his phone back.
Deputy Patullo obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s phone data. On January 5, 2026, Deputy Patullo located chat between the defendant and a person named Preston Bredow between the dates of October 22, 2025 and October 26, 2025. The defendant sent Bredow a message saying “ got that jewelry and or batteries for some.” Pedrys later provides an address on Mississippi address where the defendant is known to stay, and wrote, “Ayy I got both the batteries and charger and all the jewelry I’ll show you’re the stamps on each.” On February 26, 2026, Elk River Police received the DNA results from the swabs taken from the abandoned and stolen property.
The defendant’s DNA was located on the gas can left in J. B.’s garage. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
