WINDOM — A 20-year-old Rochester resident has been charged with felony-level motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and theft of movable property following an Aug. 17 incident in the city of Windom.
Madio Geovonni Callahan is slated to make his initial appearance in Cottonwood County Fifth District Court on Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, the Windom Police Department was notified on Aug. 17 that a vehicle was stolen from the Windom Towing lot.
The owner stated that his black Chevrolet pickup was no longer in the lot where he left it. He noticed the truck was missing that day. He estimated the truck’s value at $23,000 and noted there was approximately $600 worth of camping gear inside the vehicle.
On. Aug. 18, it was reported that a Black Chevy Duramax bearing the same license plates was heading south on Jackson County 17. A Jackson County deputy observed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.
As the sole occupant of the vehicle, Callahan reportedly drove into a private drive, did a U-turn and pointed the vehicle directly at the driver’s side of the squad car. The deputy drew his duty firearm and instructed Callahan to exit the vehicle.
Callahan exited the vehicle while reportedly saying he knew it was too good to be true and he paid $300 for a truck that was probably stolen.
The deputy reportedly observed Callahan to be twitchy and sweating profusely, and believed he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Callahan reportedly admitted using the previous morning but did not specify what he used.
The driver of a minivan that was reportedly accompanying the pickup had also stopped during the incident. Zachery Leckey was arrested for receiving stolen property for having a stolen toolbox strapped to the minivan. When questioned, Leckey reported that Callahan stole the toolbox a week or two prior, and had also stolen the truck.
After the Chevy Duramax was released to the owner, law enforcement was notified that the following valued items were missing from the truck: A $500 Edge CTS engine monitor; $350 Escort 360 radar detector; $650 to $700 Weigh Safe drop hitch; $120 to $140 Kicker amp; $120 JL Audio 10-inch subwoofer and box; $120 Power Torque toolbox and tools; $500 Escort Redline radar detector; $80 Queen air mattress; and a Yeti cooler of unknown value.
The truck also was missing two headlights, had damage to the front grill, had a scratch on the hood, and wet paint on the body and undercarriage of the passenger side.
Callahan was detained in Cottonwood County, with conditional bail set at $10,000.
If convicted, Callahan faces up to 10 years in jail and/or a $20,000 fine for each of the counts of motor vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. On the charge of taking movable property, Callahan faces up to five years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine.