28 December 2023
A 30-year-old is charged with breaking into a Vadnais Heights business on Christmas, getting on an ATV inside and leaving behind more than $150,000 in damage as he rode it through the store.
Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies responded to Tousley Motorsports about 6:20 a.m. Monday on a report of a glass-break alarm. Security cameras showed a person was inside the business. He was crashing an all-terrain vehicle into merchandise and fixtures, and “drove directly” toward a deputy at the south door, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.
The man — wearing a Tousley jacket, bright red shoes and a red helmet that the sheriff’s office said was stolen from the business — crashed through the store’s gate on the stolen purple ATV and kept driving, the complaint said.
Austin Michael Erickson (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies caught Austin Michael Erickson, of Vadnais Heights, after he ran from the ATV toward a wooden area, according to the complaint.
After his arrest, Erickson said he had contacted a friend from high school and agreed to meet him at Tousley. “They did dope,” walked to Tousley and climbed the fence, the complaint said of what Erickson reported. Erickson said he used a trailer hitch to break the glass to get inside, and he relayed information to his friend who was “outside scouting and watching.”
Deputies did not find another person on the scene.
Erickson has three ongoing court cases that he was out on bond for — motor vehicle theft, threats of violence and second-degree assault.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged him Wednesday with first-degree criminal damage to property, theft of motor vehicle and possession of a burglary tool. Prosecutors asked that a judge set his bail at $200,000; it was set at $5,000 bail or bond with no conditions or $500 cash bail with conditions.
Erickson remained in custody as of Wednesday night. An attorney for him couldn’t be reached for comment.
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