Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Officer's memory helps stop tire caper

Officer's memory helps stop tire caper

Dec 30, 2008 - 06:59:27 CST

By JENNY MICHAEL
Bismarck Tribune

An officer's quick memory helped Bismarck police arrest a suspect in tire thefts from Wal-Mart.

Bismarck Police Sgt. Dwight Offerman said Officer Karin McNamee responded to the second report of a man in a red minivan with temporary license plates stealing tires from a Bismarck Wal-Mart store.

The first report of tire thefts, made on Wednesday, involved two tires taken from the south Wal-Mart, 2717 Rock Island Place, by a man who drove off in a red minivan, Offerman said. He said the tires were valued at $340.

The second report, made on Friday, involved four Uniroyal tires, valued at $440, being taken from the north Wal-Mart, 1400 Skyline Boulevard, on Dec. 20, Offerman said.

He said McNamee had responded to a domestic disturbance on Dec. 23, and remembered a stack of new tires at the apartment. Though it seemed unusual, there was nothing suspicious about the tires at that time, Offerman said. The male half of the disturbance had left for the night to stay at another man's home, he said.

McNamee returned to the apartment, which no longer housed the tires, following the report at Wal-Mart, Offerman said. He said she found out the man from the domestic disturbance had stayed with Clark Baker, who owns a red minivan with temporary license plates, Offerman said.

Baker was arrested for the tire thefts, as well as the theft of a $200 dual-disc DVDplayer, Offerman said.

Baker was charged Monday with Class Cfelony theft of property for the Wednesday tire theft and the DVD player.

South Central District Judge Robert Wefald set bond for Baker at $5,000 cash.

The case remains under investigation, and officers are looking for another possible suspect, Offerman said. He praised McNamee's work in the case.

"She did a fine job,"he said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Laura wrote on Jan 5, 2009 11:43 AM:

" Thank you Rachel "

Laura wrote on Jan 4, 2009 6:19 PM:

" Well, when she helps solve a murder case let me know. Just because she is a police officer doesn't mean she is any better than those that work in Bismarck without recognition. It did not need to be in the paper. "

Rachel wrote on Jan 4, 2009 5:23 PM:

" This is an example of good police work, but not news worthy in my opinion. I agree with Laura, that is a Police Officer''s job. "

BJ wrote on Jan 3, 2009 1:34 AM:

" Laura - the next time this officer is at a scene her great observations might be to solve a murder crime. No mattter how minor this crime (the tires) was, her observations will prove to be a stepping stone in the next case. "

Laura wrote on Jan 2, 2009 8:47 PM:

" Wow! She was doing her job!!! That is what she is supposed to do. It was just tires! It was not like she solved a murder. "

Bismarcker wrote on Dec 31, 2008 11:01 AM:

" Now that is efficient police work! Great job Officer McNamee! "

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