MINNEAPOLIS — A man is charged with three felonies after allegedly ransacking and stealing from vehicles being held by Minneapolis police in connection with crimes.
Prosecutors detail the case in a criminal complaint filed against Dakoda Scott Peplinski, 21, including charges of theft, receiving stolen property and fleeing police.
The criminal activity was discovered on March 15, when an MPD sergeant went to the department's forensics garage to assist in the search of a vehicle connected to a homicide investigation. When the sergeant looked in the vehicle he noticed items scattered around the interior of the vehicle that had not been when it was impounded.
Investigators began watching surveillance video and saw that on March 10, a man later identified as Peplinski was seen inside the forensics lot for about two hours. In that time police say he was in and out of 21 separate vehicles taking items from them and throwing them over the fence.
Surveillance tape again captures Peplinski in the forensics lot two days later on March 12, spending about the same amount of time but ransacking just three vehicles. Investigators say the tape showed the defendant throwing a bag of items taken from the vehicles over the fence.
On March 22, prosecutors say Peplinski was spotted in person inside the forensics lot, walking towards the fence carrying a computer and a box carrying a French horn, each valued at approximately $1,000. After he reportedly ran through a hole in the fence and jumped into a vehicle, an MPD squad arrived on scene and initiated a pursuit.
Court documents say Peplinski struck and damaged a city of Minneapolis vehicle but kept fleeing, driving for blocks while ignoring traffic signals and signs. He eventually was stopped when an unmarked squad pulled in front of the getaway vehicle. Inside the car, police say, was a handgun, live ammo, a baggie that field tested positive for fentanyl and an unlabeled prescription bottle containing Clonazepam, a known sedative.
Hennepin County Attorney's Office spokesperson Nicholas Kimball says prosecutors have been in communication with MPD and forensic lot officials since learning of the allegations against Peplinski and trying to determine whether any cases could be impacted. "We have been working together to document the affected vehicles, assess the impact to cases, and ensure we make necessary disclosures on any pending cases," Kimball wrote in a statement to KARE 11.
Dakoda Peplinski had previously been issued a no-trespassing order for the forensics lot on Feb. 2 of this year. He remains in custody pending his next court appearance.
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