Man with 8 stayed felonies since 2021 arrested in Lauderdale after fleeing a stolen vehicle
By Crime Watch MN, Feb. 22, 2023
A St. Paul, Minn., man with at least 24 prior convictions, including 8 felonies since 2021, was found hiding in the rafters of a Lauderdale residential garage after allegedly fleeing from a stolen vehicle Tuesday night.
Kicker: All eight of his felony convictions in eight separate cases were stayed (no prison) by Ramsey County judges Kelly Olmstead and Jeannice M. Reding. Those felony convictions include check forgery with intent to defraud, theft by swindle (3), theft, counterfeiting currency, second-degree burglary, and robbery.
It’s almost like not imposing consequences for criminal behavior escalates criminal behavior🙄.
Miguel Thelen, 40, is in custody on probable cause possession of a stolen vehicle and theft.
Crime Watch reported Tuesday night that police in Lauderdale came upon a stolen vehicle before 9 p.m. on the 1800 block of Walnut Street, according to dispatch audio. An officer aired that she saw a male flee from the vehicle. Audio indicated that police found another person in the vehicle and that person was taken into custody.
A perimeter search ensued with K9 for the male who fled. About 40 minutes later, the K9 track landed at a garage on the 1900 block of Walnut Street.
Police spoke to the homeowner and obtained a garage door opener. Prior to opening the garage, police learned the suspect was Thelen and aired that he had extensive [criminal] history in St. Paul and had a Ramsey County warrant for criminal vehicular operation.
Several PA warnings were given for the suspect to exit the garage. Police eventually entered the garage and said they found Thelen in the rafters of the garage, and he was taken into custody before 10 p.m.
Thelen remained in custody Wednesday night and had not yet been formally charged in the new arrest.
A check of court records shows that Thelen has an active Washington County warrant for theft and other open cases in Hennepin County on charges of theft and false info to police. Records show that Thelen has failed to appear at scheduled court hearings numerous times in the open cases and several warrants have been issued for his arrest since 2021.
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