Two charged in Bemidji burglary after $30,000 taken; suspected meth seized

Joshua Allen Church and Amelia Rose Shockley have been charged with felony second-degree burglary and theft after investigators say roughly $30,000 in cash was stolen from a Bemidji home on Nov. 29, according to a release from Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs and court documents cited by local reporting.

Deputies were dispatched to the 2400 block of First Street East at 11:37 a.m. Saturday after the victim’s brother, who was checking the residence while the homeowner lived in a care facility, found signs of forced entry and a piece of paper he had placed in the door lying on the floor, Valley News Live reported. Investigators documented pry marks on the exterior door and on a safe that had been moved and forced open; the safe reportedly contained about $30,000 in cash and a small metal box with additional currency.

At the scene deputies found black-and-gold gloves near the safe and a large crowbar with a red handle by the front door, court documents cited by Valley News Live state. A business envelope marked “House Deed” was on the kitchen counter after being removed from the safe, the documentation adds.

Beltrami County investigators identified Church and Shockley as suspects following interviews and located Church at the Super 8 Motel in Bemidji. Officers detained Church outside the motel at 9:45 p.m., Valley News Live reported; other outlets say both suspects were subsequently arrested and charged following the investigation and filing of court documents.

Valley News Live and court filings report that Church initially told investigators he had won $6,000 at Cedar Lakes Casino, a claim casino staff contradicted; he later told investigators he received cash from Shockley and ultimately admitted he acted as a lookout while Shockley and an unidentified man used a large iron crowbar to force entry, according to the reporting.

A search warrant executed at the motel room yielded cash and drug evidence, but reported recovery amounts vary. Valley News Live says investigators found $8,300 hidden in the bed’s box spring and needles and a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The Bemidji Pioneer and Lakeland News report investigators recovered $9,865 in cash and seized over a quarter ounce of methamphetamine. None of the reporting states the full $30,000 was recovered.

Court records and Lakeland News show bail set at $100,000 with no conditions or $75,000 with conditions for Church, and $50,000 no conditions or $25,000 with conditions for Shockley. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 15, according to Lakeland News. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office release and court documents provided the basis for the details reported by local outlets.