Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing a gross misdemeanor theft charge after a missing iPhone was found inside a phone-buyback kiosk, according to a Beltrami County District Court complaint.
Justin Michael Knapp has been charged with theft of and appropriate lost property. The case was filed in Beltrami County District Court under court file number 04-CR-26-1058.
The charge stems from an August 21, 2025, report involving a missing iPhone 16. According to the complaint, Ms. Day reported that her phone went missing after she had been at Dollar General.
Ms. Day told police she was not sure if the phone was stolen or misplaced. She later went to Verizon for help tracking the device.
Phone Tracked To Walmart Kiosk
The complaint says the phone pinged to a kiosk inside Walmart. The kiosk was operated by EcoATM, where phones can be exchanged for money.
Ms. Day reportedly called the phone and heard it ringing inside the kiosk. Police later confirmed the phone was inside the machine and recovered it.
On August 27, 2025, police received a report from Brian Spears of EcoATM. The report said the identification used at the kiosk belonged to Justin Michael Knapp.
The complaint says a photo taken during the kiosk transaction matched Knapp. It also says Knapp indicated he owned the phone or had permission to sell it.
Complaint Says Owner Provided Proof
Ms. Day later provided police with a Verizon document. The document showed the recovered phone belonged to her.
The complaint says the iPhone 16 had a retail price of $829.99 when purchased on March 16, 2025.
On September 1, 2025, police spoke with Knapp about the phone. According to the complaint, Knapp said he found the phone near Delton Avenue.
When asked for more detail, Knapp reportedly said he found it in the street. The complaint says he admitted he did not try to find or contact the owner.
Under Minnesota Statute 609.52, theft can include keeping lost property without making a reasonable effort to return it.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine. Court records can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
A criminal complaint is not a conviction. Knapp is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
