Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A former maintenance employee at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls has been charged with misdemeanor theft after allegedly refusing to return facility keys following his termination.
On April 30, 2025, Justin Lee Shepard, 36, of Roseau, MN, was cited under Minnesota Statute 609.52.2(a)(5)(i) for theft-indifferent to owner rights. The incident reportedly began when Shepard met with the arena’s executive director to exchange his final paycheck for the return of facility keys. After receiving his paycheck, Shepard allegedly withheld the keys, stating he would only return them upon the return of his jacket.
Later that day, Shepard returned two keys to the Pennington County Law Enforcement Center. However, the arena’s management indicated that several keys remained unreturned, including specialized keys essential for facility operations. The cost to re-key the building was estimated to be up to $10,000.
The citation was issued by Sgt. Charles Lindgren of the Thief River Falls Police Department and mailed to Shepard. The Thief River Falls City Attorney is prosecuting the case.
Did you know?
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Citation Number: 057012024002248
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Offense Date: 04/30/2025
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Charge: Theft – Indifferent to Owner Rights
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Statute: 609.52.2(a)(5)(i)
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Degree: Misdemeanor
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DOB: 03/26/1989
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Height/Weight: 5’10”, 150 lbs
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Eye Color: Hazel
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Officer: Charles Lindgren, Badge #1342
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Location: 525 Brooks Avenue N, Thief River Falls
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Prosecutor: Thief River Falls City Attorney
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News