Minnesota Best Buy break-ins cause ‘minimal’ damage, police say

With little evidence of any damage or injuries, the disturbance that occurred at two Minnesota Best Buy stores last week is the result of “lewd, perverted and uncivil conduct”, a state police report says.

Sixteen people were arrested in the disturbance at both stores but police found “no evidence to support” reports of damage or injuries, the report said.

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The break-ins occurred on 21 January in Burnsville and Newport, north of Minneapolis.

Store security’s video footage captured people entering the stores and some were fighting, yelling and firing crude racial epithets at other shoppers, according to the report.

Police were called to Newport, but the disturbance continued in the Burnsville store. A dispute broke out in the parking lot between two cars, at which point a police officer approached. During the confrontation, three people threw soda bottles at the officer, the report said.

Security also received reports that three unidentified people were fighting inside the electronics store, the report said.

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Based on these reports, Minnesota state police officials reported that “police officers and investigators of the criminal justice system believe there exists probable cause to make the following arrests:”

18-year-old Samuel Huddleston, of Plymouth

21-year-old Brandon Goetz, of Prior Lake

21-year-old Casey Nevinger, of Plymouth

21-year-old Hailey Wentz, of Plymouth

22-year-old Michael Mannix, of Burnsville

22-year-old Nathan Winkelman, of Plymouth

20-year-old Taylor Jacobsen, of Newport

Twenty-year-old Shelby Meinert, of Plymouth

Twenty-one-year-old William Wroten, of Burnsville

Twenty-nine-year-old Tyler Eunick, of Burnsville

Six people who were arrested were jailed in Dakota County jail on suspicion of various counts of burglary, riot, assault, and disorderly conduct.

Mark Johnson, Dakota County sheriff, said the incident resulted in “more than $10,000 in damage at the stores. The damage was less than $500 dollars for electronics at the Burnsville store.”

Eight people were held in the Plymouth jail for allegedly resisting or obstructing police officers.

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