Grand Forks County Burglary: Pickaxe Leads to Charges
GRAND FORKS COUNTY, N.D. (northwestmnnow.com) — Two men face burglary charges after deputies connected several pieces of evidence to a reported break-in.
Chad David Fischer, 47, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and Benjamin James Thomas, 45, of Fargo, are charged.
Each faces burglary and attempted unlawful entry into a vehicle, according to Grand Forks County court documents.
Investigators say a pickaxe, stolen property, a footprint, and a hidden wallet helped connect the men to the residence.
Suspicious Pickup Truck Leads to Traffic Stop
Deputies responded to suspicious activity near a Grand Forks County residence around 1 a.m. October 7, 2026.
They discovered a pickup truck parked outside the property with both doors open.
No one was near the vehicle when deputies first arrived.
About two hours later, deputies noticed a man walking nearby and behaving suspiciously.
Shortly afterward, officers spotted the same pickup driving away without its headlights on.
Deputies stopped the truck and identified Thomas as the driver and Fischer as the passenger.
Both men were arrested that night on separate drug-related charges, according to court documents.
Investigators also discovered a Bluetooth speaker inside the pickup.
Body Camera Footage Reveals Important Clue
The burglary investigation took a significant turn the following day.
A sheriff’s sergeant reviewed body camera footage recorded during the original call.
The video showed a pickaxe wedged in the trunk of a car parked near the residence.
Deputies returned to the property to examine the vehicle and surrounding area.
Investigators discovered pry marks on the car’s trunk that matched the width of the pickaxe.
Similar damage was also found on doors at the residence, according to the probable-cause declaration.
Homeowner Identifies Missing Property
During the follow-up investigation, deputies spoke with the woman living at the residence.
She identified the Bluetooth speaker recovered from the pickup as property taken from her home.
The homeowner also identified a mixer discovered in the yard as another item from inside her residence.
Those discoveries provided additional evidence connecting the reported burglary to the earlier traffic stop.
Footprint and Hidden Wallet Strengthen Investigation
Deputies also found a footprint on a rug inside the home.
According to court documents, the impression matched the shoes Fischer was wearing.
Investigators then discovered a wallet hidden beneath a nearby gazebo.
The wallet contained identification belonging to Thomas, according to the complaint.
Deputies considered the discovery important because Thomas had been unable to provide identification during the earlier traffic stop.
The physical evidence became part of the case supporting the burglary allegations.
Both Men Face Criminal Charges
Fischer and Thomas each face charges stemming from the alleged burglary and attempted vehicle entry.
The case was detailed in an October 9 report by Valley News Live.
Readers can review publicly available court information through the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry.
Additional information about county law enforcement is available through the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office.
The criminal charges remain allegations. Fischer and Thomas are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m David Keller reporting for Northwest MN Now News.
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