Fillmore County District Court

On February 11, Michael Lee Drake, 31 of Lanesboro, appeared before District Court Judge Matthew J. Opat.  Drake is charged with Possession of Burglary or Theft Tools, a felony with a maximum criminal penalty of threes year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.  On February 10, a possible theft or vehicle tampering was allegedly reported in rural Lanesboro involving a suspect in a green coat and white four-door sedan.  A sheriff’s lieutenant was able to locate the suspect vehicle and alleged suspect.  The defendant was the passenger and eventually allegedly admitted he was going to remove a catalytic converter off another vehicle without permission (via Sawzall), but was unable to do so.  At the residence of the attempted theft, the victim told another officer they had seen a white car drive by, then stop on a roadway near an abandoned pickup.  A person (green coat) was observed running towards the vehicle, with tools, climbing under said vehicle.