Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) – In a startling turn of events, a Thief River Falls man was apprehended over 500 miles away in Montana after allegedly stealing a vehicle from his hometown.
On September 11, 2024, Deputy Melissa Larson responded to a report of a stolen 1996 green Jeep Grand Cherokee from a residence on 158th Street. The vehicle’s owner, RR, stated he had left the keys in the Jeep, intending to use it shortly. Upon returning outside, he discovered the vehicle missing, with personal items scattered on the lawn.
Surveillance footage from nearby residences captured the Jeep traveling westbound on 158th Street around 10:41 a.m., and later passing through the Greenwood/Pennington roundabout.
The following day, authorities in Glasgow, Montana, conducted a traffic stop on a Jeep matching the stolen vehicle’s description. The driver, identified as 31-year-old John Charles Isleman of Thief River Falls, was alone in the vehicle, which lacked license plates. Isleman reportedly told officers he had left Thief River Falls and was “going for a drive.” He had also been seen at a local post office seeking directions to California.
Isleman was taken into custody in Montana and now faces felony charges for motor vehicle theft in Pennington County.
Did you know?
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Defendant: John Charles Isleman, DOB: 02/24/1993
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Charge: Felony Theft of a Motor Vehicle
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Statute: Minnesota Statute 609.52.2(a)(17)
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Maximum Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine
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Vehicle Value: Approximately $2,400
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Court File No.: 57-CR-24-587
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Prosecutor File No.: 24-600-116
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.