Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On December 27, an Ogema couple was charged in Pennington County District Court for allegedly stealing merchandise valued at over $4,169 from L&M Fleet Supply in Thief River Falls. The individuals, identified as 34-year-olds Ashley Anne Ashley and Casey Michael Wheeler, face felony theft charges. Ashley is currently held at the Pennington County Jail, while Wheeler is incarcerated at the Becker County Jail; a warrant has been issued for his transfer to Pennington County.
The charges originate from a reported theft at L&M Fleet Supply on the afternoon of December 27. Store personnel reported that a man and woman exited the store with carts filled with merchandise without making payment, subsequently leaving in a Dodge Durango that lacked both front and rear license plates. Initial attempts by law enforcement to locate the vehicle were unsuccessful.
Through surveillance footage and collaboration with other agencies, authorities identified the suspects as Ashley and Wheeler. The stolen merchandise, totaling $4,169.42, included a Honda generator valued at $1,099.
According to the criminal complaint, Ashley and Wheeler loaded two shopping carts inside the store. Wheeler briefly exited to purchase a beverage with cash before re-entering. The pair then proceeded to push the carts through the load-out doors. Wheeler’s cart contained what appeared to be a Honda generator, which he loaded into their vehicle, while Ashley placed a DeWalt box and another item from her cart into the vehicle. Some items were left behind in the carts as they departed.
Store alarms were triggered during their exit, drawing the attention of the assistant and regional managers near the doors. The assistant manager managed to retrieve the shopping cart from Ashley, who then entered the backseat of the vehicle before Wheeler drove away.
Chief Deputy Scott Mekash of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office distributed images and videos of the suspects to surrounding law enforcement agencies. A narcotics investigator from the White Earth Police Department identified the individuals as Ashley and Wheeler, noting that Wheeler’s booking photo matched the male suspect, and Ashley’s booking photo displayed a neck tattoo consistent with that of the female suspect. It was also noted that Ashley and Wheeler are in a romantic relationship.
On December 31, information was received indicating that the Bemidji Police Department had taken a report of a stolen Dodge Durango. The owner reported that the vehicle had been stolen a few days after its release from an impound lot on December 19 and believed the vehicle seen in the surveillance footage was his. He did not recognize the individuals in the footage.
Later that day, the White Earth Police Department observed the stolen vehicle outside a residence in Ogema, leading to Wheeler’s arrest for operating the vehicle.
The vehicle was photographed, revealing features matching those seen in the surveillance video, including black seats with orange stripes.
While detained at the Becker County Jail, Wheeler reportedly admitted to law enforcement officers that he and Ashley had stolen the generator and other items, citing a lack of electricity as the reason for taking the generator. He mentioned that store employees followed them out, and while he secured the generator, Ashley allegedly took additional items. Wheeler claimed ignorance of what Ashley did with the items afterward.
Wheeler stated that they were financially strained and had driven his father to Seven Clans Casino. Ashley suggested visiting Thief River Falls, leading them to L&M Fleet Supply without a specific plan. They removed the vehicle’s license plates before arriving, anticipating external surveillance cameras.
Subsequent search warrants executed at the Ogema residences of both suspects’ mothers led to the discovery of the Honda generator, still bearing the L&M Fleet Supply price tag, near Wheeler’s mother’s front door. No relevant evidence was found at Ashley’s mother’s home.
Ashley later visited the White Earth Police Department to retrieve items from the stolen vehicle. During an interview, she claimed that she and Wheeler had purchased the vehicle but was unaware of the previous owner, as she was not present during the sale. She alleged that another woman instructed them to enter the store and take items while she remained in the vehicle. Ashley assumed the woman had arranged for someone else to purchase the items and mentioned that the woman attempted to sell the generator on Facebook.
When questioned about the items taken from the cart before employees intervened, Ashley initially denied taking anything but later expressed uncertainty. She mentioned experiencing blackouts due to low blood sugar and blood pressure and stated that the woman had offered them half of whatever was taken from the store.
Ashley ultimately admitted to filling the shopping cart with items and leaving the store without payment. She denied removing the vehicle’s license plates, attributing that action to Wheeler, and claimed not to have taken anything from the vehicle after being dropped off following the theft.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for trfnews.i234.me