Crime & Safety

Eagan Man Charged with Burglarizing Building, Blames Meth Addiction

Alexander James Farrell of Eagan and James Lambert Bergstrom of St. Paul are charged with burglarizing a Minneapolis rubber company, and police say Farrell blamed his addiction to methamphetamine for the crime.

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Two men, one from Eagan and one from St. Paul, have been charged with burglarizing a Minneapolis company, and police say the Eagan man blamed the crime on his addiction to methamphetamine.

Alexander James Farrell, 24, of Eagan, and James Lambert Bergstrom, 56, of St. Paul, are charged with third-degree burglary, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 bond.

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Officers were called to a report of a burglary in progress at Advance Rubber Co. in the 3300 block of Washington Avenue North just before 10:30 p.m. Aug. 18, according to the criminal complaints, signed by Minneapolis Police Sgt. Marvin Schumer.

Officers met the building’s owner, who said he had found an open window on the building’s south side and that when he got close to the window, he could hear movement and noises inside.

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The owner unlocked the front doors, and officers went in, announcing their presence and telling anyone inside to come out. Shortly afterward, Farrell appeared and surrendered to police; Bergstrom was found in the basement, and he too was arrested.

The owner pointed out several large buckets containing scrap metal, tools and other merchandise, and told police that the items had originally been in different locations in the building.

In the rear of the building, officers found another open window with a small wooden ladder outside leaning against it. Piles of scrap metal, tools and other items were in a pile outside the open window.

As police were pulling away to take both Farrell and Bergstrom to jail, Farrell said, “Officer, can you let me apologize to [the building owner]? I feel bad for doing this. I got a meth problem,” according to the complaints.

Bergstrom told police that he and Farrell were driving around looking for scrap and they spotted the Advance Rubber building, which they thought was abandoned, the complaint says. He said they entered the building through a side window because the doors were locked, and that they went in because he saw a machine that “looked neat” and he wanted to start it up, according to the complaint.

Both men have been released from custody, Farrell on a $20,000 bond and Bergstrom on his promise to make all future court appearances. Farrell’s next hearing is scheduled Sept. 12 and an omnibus hearing in Bergstrom’s case is scheduled Oct. 11, both in Hennepin County District Court.


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