Charges: Wanted Man Caught With Stolen Motorcycle at Southeast Rochester Business

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A reported forklift ride at a Rochester business led to the arrest of a wanted Rochester man. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to the business on Saturday.

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Stolen Motorcycle Discovered After Olmsted County Sheriff's Deputy Responds to Forklift Tampering Call at Rochester-Area Business

A responding deputy was told someone had moved the forklift while staff were cleaning the shop at a business located in the 3400 block of Marion Rd. SE. 

Employees located the forklift at the property. It was determined the person had driven the equipment behind storage containers and left the business on a motorcycle, the complaint says. 

A deputy returned to the business later on Saturday after the suspect was seen on camera at the business. While trying to find the person, the deputy found a motorcycle parked at the property that had been reported stolen out of Mower County, the charges say.

Facebook User Helps to ID Motorcycle Theft Suspect

The owner of the motorcycle told law enforcement that they were contacted by a person they did not know on Facebook.

The person stated 29-year-old Logan Nathaniel Johnson was seen driving the victim’s motorcycle in Oronoco a couple of days earlier, according to the complaint.

The deputy returned to Advantage Distributing and Lubricants shortly after midnight on Sunday to write reports and conduct surveillance. Johnson was seen at the property about 15 minutes after the deputy returned, the court document says. 

Motorcycle Theft Suspect Arrested After Trying to Flee Deputy, Complaint says

He attempted to run from the deputy but tripped and was arrested for two active arrest warrants, the court document states. 

In a statement to law enforcement, Johnson admitted to possessing the motorcycle and knowing it was stolen. He then stated he saw the motorcycle was missing on Facebook and that he was storing it for a friend, according to the complaint. 

Johnson is charged with felony motor vehicle theft and misdemeanor counts of fleeing police and tampering with a motor vehicle. 

As of Monday night he remains in the Olmsted County Jail. He’s due back in court in the motorcycle theft case early next year.