Polk County: Beltrami Man Charged After Breaking Into Home and Tampering with Motorcycle
Beltrami (trfnews.i234.me) — A Beltrami, Minnesota, man is facing multiple charges after allegedly breaking into a home and tampering with a motorcycle without the owner’s permission, according to a criminal complaint filed in Polk County District Court.
Ryan Daniel Melby, 19, of Beltrami, has been charged with gross misdemeanor fourth-degree burglary and misdemeanor tampering with a motor vehicle stemming from a September 24, 2025, incident investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, deputies were dispatched to a home on DeKalb Avenue in Beltrami after residents reported receiving Snapchat videos from Melby showing him inside their garage. The homeowners told deputies that Melby did not have permission to be there and that both garage doors had been locked. Investigators determined Melby had entered through an unlocked front door, walked through the house, and gone into the garage.
The victim, identified as J.T., told deputies that Melby had been sending him videos of himself taking apart a $6,000 motorcycle that J.T. had recently purchased. J.T. told Melby to leave immediately and said he never gave him permission to enter the home or work on the bike. Both residents stated they wanted charges pressed.
When deputies questioned Melby, he admitted to entering the residence and the garage without permission, claiming he was there to help fix the motorcycle. He said he was in the home for about 10 minutes before leaving when told to do so. Law enforcement reviewed the Snapchat exchange between the two, confirming that Melby had entered without consent and interacted with the bike despite the owner’s objections.
Melby was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. Deputies seized his phone, which contained multiple images and videos from inside the home and garage. Investigators say the messages clearly show Melby admitting to being in the house without permission.
If convicted, Melby faces up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine on the burglary charge, plus up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for tampering with a vehicle.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues to handle the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
For more on Minnesota burglary and property crime laws, visit the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
