LINO LAKES, Minn. (Oct. 31, 2013) — James Peter Schwab, Jr. of Ham Lake is being charged with burglary in the third degree after law enforcement noted suspicious activity at a vacant gas station and car wash.
On the evening of Oct. 17, officers were called to a former gas station and car wash in Lino Lakes after a reported burglary. Once on the scene, police noticed a large industrial air compressor and motor unit had been cut and moved from their original locations. The following evening, that same officer was patrolling the location when she noticed a truck and trailer parked between the two buildings; on the trailer were the air compressor and motor unit, along with two small tires.
According to the criminal complaint, the officer approached Schwab Jr., who was observed to be sweating profusely and breathing heavily; when asked about his condition, Schwab Jr. claimed he was doing so due to attempting to attach the tires to the trailer. He also asserted that he received the compressor and motor unit from a man named “Rick” at National Recycling Inc. an hour before arriving at the gas station. However, National Recycling Inc. later refuted this claim, stating that Rick was neither at National Recycling Inc. in the previous hour, nor did he have any acquaintance with Schwab Jr.
Boot prints covered in an oily substance were found inside the building and outside the carwash, and matched the boots Schwab was wearing that evening; he later admitted to entering the carwash without permission as well as stealing the air compressor, motor unit, and tires. If convicted, Schwab could serve up to five years in prison and incur up to $10,000 in fines.
