License plate reader helps Otter Tail County deputy arrest theft suspect

An Otter Tail County deputy’s automatic license plate reader flagged a Ford Taurus reported stolen June 24 during a Fergus Falls traffic stop. Brandon Alan Jones, 33, of Moorhead, was taken into custody Saturday, June 27.

The vehicle’s owner believed Jones had taken the Taurus without permission and had video of him stealing it. Jones also admitted to officers that he had taken his neighbor’s vehicle without permission.

Jones made his first Otter Tail County court appearance Monday morning and was charged locally with receiving stolen property and driving with a canceled driver’s license. The theft allegation tied to the original taking of the car will be handled in Clay County.

The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office replaced aging squad car cameras with new fleet cameras equipped with automatic license plate reader technology in November 2024. The office uses Axon ALPR in patrol vehicles for real-time alerting to arrest wanted criminals, recover stolen property and support investigations.

Minnesota law requires every state and local agency that maintains an automated license plate reader to have a written policy governing its use. The reader gave deputies a fast roadside match between the Taurus and the earlier theft report.

Receiving stolen property covers a person who knowingly possesses or transfers property known to be stolen, while driving after cancellation is a misdemeanor when someone knowingly operates a motor vehicle while a license is canceled. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension classifies theft of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent as a felony.