A man was arrested at a car lot in Beltrami County early on September 8, 2026, after officers answering a vehicle tampering call found him under a vehicle, according to charges.
Dayton Robert Nelson, 25, of Bemidji, faces a felony charge of possession of burglary or theft tools.
Officers responded to a call about vehicle tampering at the car lot around 5:17 a.m. An officer and a deputy arrived at the scene, where they began searching the area. The deputy noticed movement under a vehicle and called the officer over. They found Nelson, who was wearing a tan shirt and a black hat. After ordering him to stand up, they placed him under arrest.
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During the search, officers discovered a flashlight and screwdrivers on Nelson. Security footage from the car lot showed him ducking behind vehicles while wearing a mask and hat. In the video, he was seen attempting to obstruct the camera’s view by pushing it up.
Nelson was taken to the Beltrami County Jail but was subsequently released.
The complaint indicates that Nelson has a significant criminal history, including multiple convictions for theft and tampering with motor vehicles. According to the complaint, he was previously convicted of theft in 2024, tampering with a motor vehicle in 2023 and giving a false name to a peace officer in 2025, among other offenses.
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