Two Charged in Separate Eagan Car Theft Incidents

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An Eagan man stole his roommate's car and driving to Onalaska, Wis., before he was picked up by Wisconsin authorities, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

Aaron Howard Andrews, 35, was charged with one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

On June 4, Eagan police were dispatched to a residence on Clemson Drive, where they met with Andrews' roommate, who had known Andrews for several years. The roommate allegedly told police Andrews was moving out and that the pair had been arguing. The roommate noticed that that key for his vehicle was missing from a keychain and confronted Andrews about it—although Andrews denied taking the key, according to the complaint.

The roommate told police he was making a meal later that evening when he heard his vehicle start up and saw Andrews drive away. The roommate told police the car was uninsured and worth approximately $20,000.

The next day, Eagan police learned that Andrews had been taken into custody in Wisconsin. Andrews, during an interview with officers, allegedly admitted taking the vehicle, but claimed he had permission to do so.

In a second, unrelated incident, a St. Paul man allegedly admitted that he stole a Chevrolet Venture from a residence on Blackhawk Ridge Circle in Eagan and abandoned the vehicle in Eden Prairie.

On Oct. 3, 2011, Eagan police met with an Eagan resident who told police her vehicle was stolen sometime overnight after it was parked in front of her house. Several days later, the vehicle was located in Eden Prairie and towed to the , where it was processed for DNA and fingerprint evidence. Eden Prairie police informed officers that the vehicle was abandoned in a cul-de-sac where another vehicle had been reported stolen.

That vehicle and its driver—later identified as Dexter Ramondo Jefferson, Jr.—were stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol. Jefferson was arrested on a felony warrant from Washington County.

On Oct. 18, an Eagan police investigator met with Jefferson, who allegedly admitted that he and a friend used to go "car hopping" together and that he had stolen the vehicle from Eagan. Jefferson, 19, faces one count of felony theft of a motor vehicle, according to a criminal complaint released this week.