A man entered the basement of a Duluth duplex while the property owner was present and left carrying a dark-colored object, prosecutors say.
Justin Wayne Tucker faces two charges in Saint Louis County District Court: first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling and possession of burglary or theft tools. The charges were filed October 19.
According to the complaint, Duluth police responded to a burglary report at a duplex residence in Duluth at about 12:20 p.m. on October 15. The property owner told officers that an unknown male had entered the basement of his property earlier that morning. He was present at the time and provided surveillance video footage to police.
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The video showed a male walking up to the property at about 10:34 a.m., entering the basement and then leaving with a dark-colored object under his arm. Investigators later identified the man in the footage as Justin Wayne Tucker.
The complaint states that officers located Tucker the next day at the Fond du Luth Casino in Duluth. During the arrest, officers searched Tucker and found a flathead screwdriver in the front pocket of his sweatshirt.
Tucker is charged with first-degree burglary for allegedly entering an occupied dwelling without consent while a non-accomplice was present. He also faces a charge of possessing burglary or theft tools, based on the screwdriver found during his arrest.
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Jurisdictional Context
Saint Louis County is Minnesota’s largest county by area, stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border. The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the Sixth Judicial District; cases are heard at courthouses in Duluth, Hibbing and Virginia.
