Grand Forks (trfnews.i234.me) A man faces a felony theft charge after a shoplifting report.
Court documents say the incident happened on February 3 at Runnings in Grand Forks. The records name the suspect as Thomas Risberg.
What the police say happened
Store alarms sounded as Risberg left with a backpack, according to the filing. The alarm system indicated unpaid items.
Documents say Risberg wore a face covering as he walked out. Staff told police the backpack and other goods were not paid for.
Police tried to locate him soon after the report, the records say. Officers later found Risberg at a nearby Simonson travel center.
The court filing says Risberg admitted he stole the backpack. The report also says he took other items from Runnings.
The documents do not list a full item count in the summary. The filing also does not include a total.
Charges listed in court records
Prosecutors charged Risberg with felony theft of property. Court records say the felony level is tied to his prior cases.
The filing states this was his fourth, or later, shoplifting offense in four years. That history raised the theft charge to a felony level.
Risberg also faces a misdemeanor count for wearing a mask during a crime. A second misdemeanor charge lists possession of drug paraphernalia.
Felony and misdemeanor charges carry different possible penalties. Sentencing, if any, depends on later court rulings.
What happens next
Charging papers are claims, not a conviction. Risberg is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A court process may include first appearances, motions, and plea talks. A judge can also set future hearing dates.
People can look up case listings through the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry site. The public portal may show basic case details.
For general police information in Grand Forks, see the Grand Forks Police Department website.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.