Arrests made in house heist

More than $30,000 in personal property - which included two vehicles and several power tools - was stolen in December from a residence in Long Prairie. One man charged in the case is the grandson of the victim.

The grandson, Joseph A. Ferrian Jr., 36, Brainerd, was charged Dec. 30 in Todd County District Court on six counts of second- and third-degree burglary, aiding and abetting second- and third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit second- and third-degree burglary, according to the Todd County Sheriff's Department.

The two other men - a 49-year-old Burnsville man and a 24-year-old Santa Rosa, Calif., man - face second- and third-degree burglary charges in Todd County District Court. Charges also are pending in Todd County against a 49-year-old Brainerd man for being in possession of stolen property and stolen firearms.

Todd County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Bryan Tebben said Tuesday that the county attorney's office is considering additional charges against several others involved in the case.

According to the criminal complaint against Ferrian, the Todd County Sheriff's Department was called to the home of Phyllis and Charles Krause to investigate a burglary. The burglary was discovered by the Krause's daughter. The Krauses were at their Texas home during the time of the burglary. It was determined that the burglary occurred sometime between Nov. 22 and Dec. 10.

Law enforcement discovered that a door to the house had been forced in breaking the door jam and door knob. The criminal complaint said, once inside, the suspects randomly went through numerous areas of the house. The safe in the master bedroom was empty and numerous drawers in the bedroom area had been ransacked.

The keys for a Dodge Intrepid and a Toyota pickup as well as the vehicles were missing. It appeared that keys were used to gain entry into an outside building. More than 80 items were taken from the residence and outbuildings, including tools, numerous long guns, hunting equipment, two motor vehicles and jewelry.

The criminal complaint reported that the St. Helena, Calif., Police Department stopped the California man, who was in the stolen Dodge Intrepid bearing Minnesota license plates. The report also said that numerous items belonging to the Krauses were found at the home of the Burnsville suspect.

Tebben said Ferrian was released from jail on $10,000 $50,000 bail. (CORRECTION: It was incorrectly reported in the Brainerd Dispatch that Ferrian was released from jail on $10,000 bail. It should say Ferrian was released from jail on $50,000 bail.)

Assisting the Todd County Sheriff's Department in this investigation were the St. Helena Police Department in California, the Santa Rosa Police Department in California, the Brainerd and Burnsville police departments and the Crow Wing and Mille Lacs sheriff's departments.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.