Sauk Rapids Man Arrested After Allegedly Breaking Into Fleet Farm Store, Stealing Shotguns

(KNSI) – A 34-year-old Sauk Rapids man is charged with felony first-degree burglary for allegedly stealing two shotguns after breaking into a Waite Park Fleet Farm on May 9th.

Waite Park police say an officer was sent to the Fleet Farm around 4:30 that morning after a burglary alarm went off at the store. The criminal complaint says the officer left after they were not able to find any damage to the entrances, but police were called out again an hour later because an employee saw a man on surveillance video who went into the store and stole a firearm.

Police say they saw the man get away with two shotguns after reviewing the surveillance video. The suspect had used a crowbar to get into the building through the Garden Center.

Authorities identified the subject, Elakie Fale Jr., from video taken at Paul’s Auto Service around 5:30 a.m. when Fale took off his bandana. Officers also found the tags for the two shotguns in a dumpster at the auto shop.

The criminal complaint says a family member called the St. Cloud Police Department on May 11th to report that Fale was walking around with a shotgun. When officers found him, police say Fale fled, dropping a package that officers say contained the two stolen firearms. Fale was arrested on May 13th and booked into the Stearns County Jail.

___