Police: Thieves' Plan to Steal Golf Carts Stopped Cold by Witness

A pair of alleged thieves who attempted to steal four golf carts and a trailer from an Eagan business were foiled by an alert witness, according to police.

William Roger Anderson, 42, and Michael Marshall Tate-Johnson, 40, both face one count of felony attempted theft following the alleged incident, which took place on May 19, according to investigators. If convicted, both men could face a maximum of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Police were called to a business in the industrial area near Kennebec Drive and Shawnee Road in Eagan at 2:50 a.m. by a witness, who told officers that two men were loading golf carts into a trailer attached to an older pickup.

Just before police arrived, the witness told officers that one man dressed in all black was running on foot from the scene. Another suspect was preparing to leave with the truck, golf carts and trailer, the witness said.

Police quickly arrested the running man, identified as Tate, based on the description provided by the witness. But when officers arrived on the scene, they found the truck, trailer and golf carts abandoned, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

At that point, the witness told police the second suspect was running from the truck—parked in the street—back toward the business. Officers brought in a canine, which located a man later identified as Anderson hiding beneath a parked car.

Officers discovered all four stolen golf carts—valued at $2,000 apiece—in the back of the trailer, according to the complaint. Police also learned that the trailer, valued at $5,000, and the truck, valued at $2,500, were also stolen.