Thief River Falls Man Charged in $800 E-Bike Theft

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man faces a theft charge involving an $800 electric bicycle.

Chase Alexander Pirtle, 26, has been charged following an investigation at Sunrise Apartments.

Police received the theft report at about 3:05 a.m. on September 21.

The complaint says the e-bike had been left inside a laundry room.

E-Bike Reported Missing

The owner told police he placed the electric bicycle inside the laundry room on September 19.

He said the bicycle was left there sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight.

The owner returned on September 21 to retrieve the bicycle.

He then discovered that the e-bike was gone.

The bicycle was valued at about $800, according to the complaint.

The available court information did not identify the owner by name.

Police investigated the theft and obtained surveillance video from the apartment building.

The complaint says the footage allegedly showed Pirtle taking the e-bike.

Authorities later spoke with Pirtle about what appeared on the video.

Pirtle allegedly admitted taking the bicycle after being told about the footage.

He reportedly told police he believed the e-bike had been abandoned.

The complaint does not provide further details about why Pirtle believed the bicycle was abandoned.

No additional information was provided about where the e-bike was later found.

The report also does not state whether the bicycle had been returned to its owner.

Pirtle has been charged with theft in connection with the incident.

The charge remains an allegation unless proven in court.

Readers can review Minnesota theft laws through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

Public court information can also be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Pirtle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.