Thief River Falls: Two Charged After Moped Theft

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — Two Thief River Falls men have been charged after a moped was stolen from a garage, according to court complaints.

Elijah Lee Louis Belgarde, 18, and Justin William Jourdain, 18, are charged in Pennington County District Court.

They were arrested, according to the complaints.

Both are charged with felony aiding and abetting first-degree burglary.

Both are also charged with felony aiding and abetting attempted motor vehicle theft.

They also face misdemeanor motor vehicle tampering and underage consumption charges.

Elijah Lee Louis Belgarde

Justin William Jourdain

Report of a burglary in progress

Police were called at about 10:38 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, the complaints say.

A neighbor reported people with flashlights entering a garage.

The complaints did not list a full address.

A police report listed the 400 block of Main Avenue North.

The neighbor said they pushed something out of the garage.

She believed a motorcycle or moped was taken.

Officer spots a moped nearby

Shortly after arriving, an officer saw a person riding a moped, the complaints say.

Police say that the rider was Belgarde.

Police also saw Jourdain nearby, the complaints say.

Police said his clothing matched the caller’s description.

Police say Belgarde ran away on foot.

Officers later found a glove near the moped, the complaints say.

Search and arrest

Police searched and found Belgarde near Fifth Street and Knight Avenue, the complaints say.

Police say he did not follow commands at first.

Police say he complied after an officer drew a Taser.

Police say Belgarde admitted the group was looking into cars.

He said they took the moped to ride it around, the complaints say.

Police also described a third teenager involved.

Police tried to locate that teen but could not find him.

Jourdain told police he tried to stop the others, the complaints say.

He said stealing the moped was a bad idea.

He said he had recently been discharged from probation.

He also said the others talked about breaking into houses to steal items, police say.

Alcohol tests

Police say Belgarde had alcohol at the time of arrest.

The complaints say he was out on release conditions in another case.

Those conditions barred him from possessing or consuming alcohol.

A preliminary breath test showed 0.14 BAC, the complaints say.

Police say Jourdain had a preliminary breath test of 0.07 BAC.

Condition of the moped

The owner told police the moped had been parked inside the garage.

Police noted a broken right-side mirror.

The owner said nothing else appeared missing.

Charges are allegations.

Anyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Resources

• Minnesota law: Burglary (609.582)
• Minnesota law: Aiding and abetting (609.05)
• Minnesota law: Motor vehicle tampering (609.546)
• Minnesota law: Under 21 alcohol illegal acts (340A.503)
• Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.