Lake of the Woods County (trfnews.i234.me) Wade Robert Anderson of McIntosh has been charged in Lake of the Woods County. Court records say he falsely reported his truck stolen and later admitted burning it.
The charges come from a criminal complaint filed in the Minnesota District Court. Anderson faces one felony count of second-degree arson. He also faces one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a crime.
What the Complaint Says
According to the complaint, Anderson called authorities on July 4, 2025. He reported that his 2024 Chevrolet 3500 had been stolen. He said the truck had been parked north of Williams. He also said the keys were left inside.
The complaint says authorities later learned the same truck had been reported in a ditch the night before. That report came from an area near Rocky Point Resort. When responders arrived, the truck was gone.
Days later, authorities were told the truck had been found. Investigators then located the pickup on property off 86th Avenue NW. The complaint says the vehicle was badly burned. It also showed signs of being driven with a missing tire.
The filing says the truck had heavy fire damage. Most plastic and glass were gone. Investigators also reported burn marks behind the exhaust area. The complaint says those details suggested the truck was running during the fire.
Witness Statements
Frank Dumbeck told investigators that Anderson said his son, Preston Anderson, crashed the truck near Rocky Point. The complaint says Dumbeck was told Anderson then moved the truck. Dumbeck also said Anderson used gasoline to set it on fire.
Donald Anderson also spoke with investigators, according to the complaint. He said Wade Anderson admitted burning the truck on leased land. He also said there was discussion about a possible insurance claim.
The complaint says Wade Anderson later spoke with investigators by phone. During that call, the filing says he admitted burning the truck. He said the pickup had rolled into a ditch first. The complaint also says he asked if the matter could be overlooked because he still owed about $50,000 on the loan.
Charges and Court Process
Anderson is charged under Minnesota’s second-degree arson law. He is also charged under the state law for falsely reporting a crime. Court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
A criminal charge is only an accusation. Anderson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. No conviction has been reported in the case.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
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