Bemidji Man Charged in Three Home Burglaries
BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Douglas Scott Schmidt faces four felony charges in Beltrami County District Court.
The complaint charges Schmidt with three counts of second-degree burglary. He also faces one count of fleeing police in a motor vehicle.
The charges stem from reported thefts near Nature Road and Pete Lane. The alleged crimes occurred between May 30 and June 9, 2026.
The court case number is 04-CR-26-1338.
Appliances and Mower Reported Stolen
A caretaker reported a riding mower missing from a Pete Lane property on June 3. The home was unoccupied after the owner’s death.
The caretaker also reported repeated ATV activity near the two properties. Deputies found ATV tracks in tall grass near the area.
Four days later, the caretaker reported a burglary at the Pete Lane home. A washer, dryer, freezer, and other property were missing.
The complaint says someone likely entered through a rear door. The latch did not fully close, and a nearby shelf had moved.
ATV Abandoned After Attempted Stop
Later that day, authorities saw Schmidt driving an ATV with a trailer on Nature Road. The complaint says he refused to stop.
The ATV and trailer were later found near Highway 2 and Stacy Ann Drive. Deputies searched nearby woods but found nobody.
Authorities then went to Schmidt’s home on Nature Road. They saw appliances and other items matching the property reported stolen.
A judge approved a search warrant for the home and nearby buildings. Deputies executed the warrant early on June 8.
The search recovered appliances, tools, trunks, slides, dishware, and other property. Investigators linked the items to several reported burglaries.
Deputies used an agency trailer to move the property. The complaint says the amount of recovered property required extra space.
Four Felony Charges Filed
Each burglary count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Each count also allows a fine of $20,000.
The fleeing charge carries up to three years and one day. It also allows a fine of $5,000.
Readers can review the relevant Minnesota burglary statute and fleeing statute.
Case information may also appear through the Minnesota Court Records Online system.
Schmidt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The complaint contains allegations, not findings of guilt.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.