Backpack With Stolen Gun, Man Charged in Beltrami County

A man wearing a ski mask and carrying a tan backpack was seen trying to open car doors in Beltrami County on October 14, prompting a call to police, according to the complaint.

Dayton Robert Nelson, 25, faces six charges: two counts of theft, financial transaction card fraud, third-degree burglary and two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle.

The complaint says a caller reported seeing a man dressed in all black with a ski mask and tan backpack attempting to open car doors. The caller confronted the man, who then left the area. Investigators responded and found a man matching the description, later identified as Nelson, who ran from an investigator before being detained.

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Nelson was found with a black face mask, black jacket and a tan backpack. He told officers he was looking for spare change and claimed all the items in his possession were his. When officers asked about the contents of his backpack, Nelson did not know what was in certain pouches. He gave officers permission to search the bag, which contained several tools and a drill labeled with another person’s name. Nelson said the drill belonged to that person and was unsure about the ownership of the other tools.

Investigators canvassed the area and spoke with a man who reported his vehicle had been rummaged through and his firearm stolen. When questioned about the firearm, Nelson denied any knowledge of it. During a later interview at the jail, Nelson initially denied seeing or stashing a firearm but then stated, “I didn’t stash it. One moment I sat down, next thing I know it wasn’t there. It fell out of my pocket.” Nelson explained that he took the firearm from the passenger seat of a vehicle and left after being seen by a girl. He also admitted to entering another vehicle in a parking lot and stealing a backpack from a garage.

Nelson pointed out the location of the garage on a map. Investigators found the garage partially open and, with the owner’s permission, searched inside. They found a Glock 9mm handgun and a holster under a pile of clothes.

During booking, correctional staff found five credit cards belonging to another person in Nelson’s possession. The complaint states that the card owner reported her wallet had been tampered with and multiple cards were missing from her vehicle.

According to the complaint, Nelson has a criminal history that includes pending charges for possession of burglary or theft tools, and prior convictions for theft, tampering with a motor vehicle, giving a peace officer a false name, fleeing by means other than a motor vehicle, fifth-degree drug possession and receiving stolen property.

The charges were filed October 15 in Beltrami County District Court.