Detroit Lakes Man Charged in $2,806 Walmart Theft

Detroit Lakes (trfnews.i234.me) — A Naytahwaush man faces a felony charge after an alleged theft at the Detroit Lakes Walmart.

Curtis Terrance Brown, 28, is charged with felony theft in Becker County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Brown and another person took merchandise worth $2,806.35 without paying.

The alleged theft happened during two trips through the store on May 27, 2026.

First Trip Through Self-Checkout

Detroit Lakes police received a shoplifting report after a customer reported seeing two people leave with unpaid merchandise.

The witness said the pair loaded items into a black Buick and left the parking lot.

Law enforcement later stopped the vehicle and identified Brown and another person.

They were released while investigators continued reviewing the case, according to the complaint.

Walmart later provided surveillance footage and a theft report to police.

The footage allegedly showed Brown and the other person entering the store around 7:18 p.m.

They reached a self-checkout station about 26 minutes later.

Prosecutors say some food and household items were bagged without being properly scanned.

The other person allegedly handed several items to Brown.

Brown then concealed those items in a second shopping cart, according to the complaint.

The pair left the store and placed the merchandise inside their vehicle.

Investigators say Brown and the other person returned to Walmart at about 8:04 p.m.

They allegedly selected more merchandise before meeting in the sporting goods area.

Surveillance video reportedly showed them moving their carts toward two closed checkout lanes.

When a store employee left the area, both carts were allegedly pushed through the exit.

Prosecutors say no payment was made for those items.

The pair then loaded the merchandise into their vehicle and drove away.

Walmart calculated the total value of the allegedly stolen merchandise at $2,806.35.

The complaint says neither person had permission to remove the items without paying.

Brown faces a felony because the alleged value exceeded $1,000.

The charge carries up to five years in prison.

It also carries a possible fine of up to $10,000.

The case is filed as Becker County court file 03-CR-26-1444.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 609.52 regarding theft offenses.

Additional court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The charge is an allegation and has not been proven in court.

Brown is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.