Moorhead Man Charged in Honor Flight Trailer Theft

Moorhead (trfnews.i234.me) — A Minnesota man faces felony charges involving a stolen Veterans Honor Flight trailer.

Robert Joseph Andert, 74, of Staples, Minnesota, was charged Monday, Aug. 10.

The Clay County Attorney’s Office filed three felony theft charges against Andert.

He also faces one felony charge of criminal damage to property.

Prosecutors allege Andert stole a trailer filled with Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN merchandise.

The trailer was taken early Aug. 3 from the Moorhead American Legion.

Items inside included shirts, tumblers, folding tables, carts and other supplies.

Authorities estimated the destroyed merchandise was worth about $30,000.

Video Helps Investigators Track Trailer

Court documents say surveillance video captured the trailer theft.

Investigators identified a vehicle and obtained its license plate number.

Records connected that vehicle to Andert, according to court documents.

Police agencies in Moorhead, Fargo and Detroit Lakes worked together on the investigation.

Authorities also used Flock license plate reader technology to develop leads.

The technology helped investigators track the trailer and identify the suspected vehicle.

Robert Andert

Authorities searched Andert’s property on Friday, Aug. 7, according to court records.

Investigators found a burn pile containing evidence linked to Honor Flight merchandise.

Andert’s wife also spoke with investigators during the search.

She said Andert had arrived with a white trailer earlier that week.

She told investigators Andert said he had purchased the trailer online.

Court documents say Andert later admitted having the trailer when contacted by a detective.

Authorities also allege he admitted burning merchandise that had been stored inside.

Andert returned the trailer to law enforcement on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Honor Flight board member Susie Schroeder thanked law enforcement and the community for their support.

She said the organization lost its merchandise and will need to replace those items.

However, the loss will not cancel the group’s planned September Honor Flight.

Veterans Honor Flight ND/MN takes area veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit military memorials.

People wishing to help can donate through the Veterans Honor Flight ND/MN website.

Andert made his first court appearance Monday.

He remained in the Clay County Jail following that appearance.

Bail was set at $20,000 without conditions, according to Clay County Attorney Brian Melton.

Bail was also set at $2,000 with several conditions.

Those conditions include remaining law-abiding, staying in Minnesota, and attending future court hearings.

The charges remain allegations unless proven in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.