Oakdale Man Suspected of Abducting Woman Appears in Court for Felony Charges

An Oakdale man suspected of abducting a Shoreview woman this fall just made his first appearance in court last week for six other felony charges.

Brian James Mehlhorn, 29, was charged in Washington County Distrct Court in October. Last week he appeared in court facing five felony theft charges and one third-degree burglary charge. 

In addition to Washington County's formal charges, Mehlhorn is being investigated as a suspect in a Shoreview woman's abduction in October. Ramsey County is handling the investigation. 

According to the first complaint for the third-degree burglary and one count of felony theft charges:

The Woodbury Police Department was called on Dec. 26, 2011 that someone had broken into an unattached garage at an apartment complext. A vehicle's tires and rims valued at $2,424 were stolen along with a bicycle valued at $330. 

When police arrived to the scene they observed a hole in the wall and damage to the overhead garage door locking mechanism. A pry bar at the scene was taken into evidence where they test the pry bar for DNA samples. Authorities found DNA samples belonging to Mehlhorn.

According to the second complaint for four counts of felony theft charges:

Police were called to the 6800 block of Fourth Street on June 24 on a report of a vehicle theft. The victim said that her car had been stolen from the street in front of her house. 

Police later discovered that a vehicle matching the victim's description was last seen in Hugo and was part of a credit card fraud investigation at a gas statoin.

The gas station's surveillance footage showed Mehlhorn at the scene

The vehicle was later found in Maplewood, where authorities found a cigarette butt, black sweatshirt, soda bottle, cell phone charger and paper reciept in the car. The items were sent to the Burea of Criminal Apprehension for a DNA analysis.

On July 27, police responded to a vehicle theft report at the 800 block of Greenway Aenue. The car was stolen while the victim was picking his children up from daycare. 

The vehicle was later found in Vadnais Heights. Police were able to find a blood sample on the steering wheel, which was later confirmed as matching Mehlhorn's DNA.

If found guilty, Mehlhorn could face up to five years in prison and pay up to $10,000 in fines for each charge. 

Related:

Oakdale Man Suspected in Abduction Investigation Charged with Six Other Crimes

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