Crime & Safety

Update: Man Suspected Of Woodbury Break-ins Also Wanted in Chisago County

Brian Thomas McCarthy, 24, is facing felony charges in Washington County and gross misdemeanor charges in Chisago County.

Update (Dec. 29, 11:35 a.m.): A Chisago County warrant was issued for Brian Thomas McCarthy on Dec. 28 after the St. Paul man failed to appear in court on charges of gross misdemeanor fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and obstruction of the legal process

McCarthy failed to appear in Chisago County because he was incarcerated in the Washington County Jail on felony charges of third-degree burglary and receiving stolen property in connection with a string of area burglaries. 

McCarthy is suspected of breaking into a detached garage in Woodbury and vehicles in Woodbury, Oakdale, Maplewood, Newport and St. Paul, Woodbury police told Patch on Dec. 22. 

Find out what's happening in Woodburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McCarthy is scheduled for an omnibus hearing in Washington County on Jan. 25. 

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Find out what's happening in Woodburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Original story (Dec. 28): The dusting of snow that hit Woodbury last week helped police arrest a man suspected in a string of break-ins in the area.

Felony charges have been filed against the man who was after officers found his footprints around several vehicles that had been broken into.

Brian Thomas McCarthy, 24, faces third-degree burglary and receiving stolen property charges. He was arrested in Woodbury on Dec. 22.

He is suspected of breaking into a detached garage in Woodbury and vehicles in Woodbury, Oakdale, Maplewood, Newport and St. Paul, Cmdr. Jay Alberio told Patch last week when McCarthy was apprehended.

According to the criminal complaint:

A little after 7 a.m. on Dec. 22, police were dispatched to the 6800 block of Glen Road after a resident spotted a man she didn’t recognize in her driveway. The man saw her and fled into a nearby wooded area.

Police arrived and found footprints, which were discovered around several vehicles in the area that had been broken into or rifled through. Some were unlocked and others had broken windows.

Officers later found McCarthy, whose shoes matched the footprints found in the snow. He had a black ski mask and black gloves in his possession, in addition to an insurance card from one of the vehicles broken into.

Police talked to area residents who said a man matching McCarthy’s description was seen asking for a ride.

Officers also found a plastic bag nearby that seemed to have been set down recently; inside were several items, including a set of keys for a vehicle stolen from St. Paul the previous evening.

The vehicle was abandoned at the 5000 block of Woodlane Drive. In it police found several items that appeared to have been stolen, including . A home on that block had its garage broken into, as was a vehicle parked outside.

The same footprints were discovered at the Woodlane home and near the entry to its detached garage.

If convicted on the burglary count, McCarthy faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.


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