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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 4/4/2012
SUBJECT: Update on Duluth Man Charged with 1st Degree Burglary
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen (218) 390-2232
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Update on Duluth Man Charged with 1st Degree Burglary
CASE NO.: 12053468, 12041996, 12018124
INCIDENT DATE: 3/30/2012
INCIDENT TIME: 10:30AM
INCIDENT LOCATION: 2700 block Branch Street
SUBJECT: Update on Duluth Man Charged with 1st Degree Burglary
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen (218) 390-2232
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Update on Duluth Man Charged with 1st Degree Burglary
CASE NO.: 12053468, 12041996, 12018124
INCIDENT DATE: 3/30/2012
INCIDENT TIME: 10:30AM
INCIDENT LOCATION: 2700 block Branch Street
On Friday, March 30th, 2012 10:30AM Duluth Police were called to the 2700 block of Branch Street on the burglary of an occupied residence that just occurred.
Initial investigation revealed that a 63 year old female resident was at home and noticed her bathroom window was broken, she then heard someone walking upstairs. A male suspect came out of an upstairs bedroom and left out the front door, pushing the resident against a wall. The suspect left on foot carrying a backpack and had stolen items from the house in his possession.
Officers set up a perimeter in the area and were soon called by a witness who saw a male matching the suspect’s description taking a path near 26th Avenue East under London Road towards the Lakewalk. At 10:56AM a Duluth Police officer spotted the suspect at 27th Avenue East and London Road and a foot chase ensued. The suspect ran down onto the Lakewalk and jumped into Lake Superior and was subsequently taken into custody.
The suspect was identified as Thomas Baker, a 36 year old, male resident of Duluth. He has been formally charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Gross Misdemeanor Receiving Stolen Property, 5th Degree Assault, 4th Degree Criminal Damage to Property and Fleeing Police on Foot.
Through further investigation by Duluth Property Crimes Investigators and Investigators from the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force it was discovered that Baker was involved with a burglary on Monday, March 12th, 2012, in the 800 block of Grandview Avenue where a number of electronics were taken. For the Grandview Avenue burglary Baker has been formally charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Theft of a Firearm, 2 counts of Theft of a Computer, Felony Theft and 4th Degree Criminal Damage to Property.
It should be noted that Baker was also arrested on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 during the search warrant in the 900 block of West 5th Street of long time Duluth drug dealer Rodney Sutherland’s residence. Baker was originally charged with Possession of Heroin and had two other local warrants for his arrest.
Thomas Baker is currently being held at the Saint Louis County Jail on $50,000 bail.
The Duluth Police Department is thanking the public for their help in providing information that ultimately resulted in the arrest of Baker for these burglaries.
Duluth Police Property Crimes Unit Sergeant Chad Nagorski will be available today at 2:00PM in the Public Safety Building Training Room to answer any questions from the media. Please contact Duluth Police Public Information Officer at (218) 390-2232 if you plan on attending.
