ATF / MN and WI Law Enforcement Agencies

In May 2003, Washington County (MN) Sheriff’s Department and Oakdale (MN) Police Department responded to a shooting incident where one suspect had shot the driver of a vehicle multiple times in an apparent attempted armed carjacking. Shortly after, officers identified a second armed carjacking victim where the suspect fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. The next day, Hudson (WI) Police Department responded to an armored car robbery where the same armed suspect, driving the carjacked vehicle, robbed the armored car of an estimated $238,000 in cash. In May 2008, Minneapolis Police Department stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and arrested the driver for unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In addition, a criminal history check identified the suspect as a felon. Using NIBIN, Minneapolis Police Department was able to link the firearm to the armed carjacking shooting. In addition, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Laboratory was able to restore the obliterated serial number and ATF’s National Tracing Center was able to trace the firearm to an individual purchaser. Subsequently, the Polk County (WI) Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the purchaser’s residence, recovered evidence of the armored car robbery, and arrested the suspect. On May 8, 2009, following conviction in Minnesota for attempted murder and carjacking, the suspect was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Prosecution for the armored car robbery is still pending.

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