Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Three arrested in burglary at State Bank of Cokato



Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a recent burglary at the State Bank of Cokato.

Jeremy Richard Fuller, 18, Kelly Louise Bell, 42 and Steven Timothy Munsinger, 22, of Dassel were charged in relation to an overnight burglary Oct. 6.

Fuller and Munsinger were arrested at an apartment less than a block behind the bank, three days after the incident, when the Wright County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of 272 Third St. SW in Cokato.

The apartment is where Bell and Fuller live, along with Bell’s three minor children.

Just at press time, a third suspect, Munsinger, was arrested and then arraigned Friday.

The search led to the recovery of a large sum of money, newly purchased electronics and clothing, and items believed to have been taken from the State Bank of Cokato, according to Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

The theft was discovered when an employee opened the bank Saturday morning, Oct. 6, and discovered cash missing from the tills.

To gain access to the bank, Fuller allegedly pried open a back door and spent 45 minutes gathering cash and coin left out inside the bank.

On bank surveillance, Fuller could be seen wheeling garbage cans full of money to the bank’s back door, said Lt. Todd Hoffman, criminal investigator of the Wright Co. Sheriff’s Department.

Fuller allegedly filled small office garbage cans full of rolled-up coins, and then called Bell to pick him up because he needed help to carry them, since they were too heavy, Hoffman said. Fuller got away with more than $15,000, Hoffman said.

Investigators say they got a good shot of Fuller’s face on the surveillance cameras. Police in Buffalo recognized the face from a residential burglary case they’d worked on.

“Videotape and bank surveillance was the key to locating (the suspects),” Bank President Dean Perry commented.

Perry said that bank procedures worked exactly as they should, and that his staff did a tremendous job in handling the issue.

He also credited law enforcement for their quick response. “They did a great job.”

Fuller is charged with second degree burglary. Bell is charged with receiving stolen property and aiding an offender.

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