Two Arrested After Bemidji Safe Burglary, Cash Recovered
Two Bemidji residents were arrested after a November 29 burglary in the 2400 block of 1st Street East in which a safe was broken into and roughly $30,000 in cash was taken. The arrests and subsequent recoveries highlight local law enforcement cooperation and raise concerns about property security and drug related crime in the community.
Beltrami County deputies responded on November 29 to a reported burglary in the 2400 block of 1st Street East in Bemidji after the reporting party found pry marks on a door and discovered a broken safe. Investigators determined approximately $30,000 in cash had been taken. Within about 14 hours, deputies had identified two possible suspects and located them at separate hotels in Bemidji.
Investigators identified the suspects as Joshua Church, a 38 year old man from Bemidji, and Amelia Shockley, a 30 year old woman from Bemidji. Deputies found Church outside a rented room, executed a search warrant on the room, and recovered $9,865 in cash. Officers also seized more than a quarter ounce of methamphetamine in the room. Shockley had rented a room at a different hotel. Officers found her outside that room, executed a search warrant, and recovered $3,833 in cash along with a small amount of methamphetamine.
Both Church and Shockley were arrested on November 29 and charged with 2nd Degree Burglary and Theft. During the course of the investigation another man was arrested for driving while impaired and possession of methamphetamine. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with assistance from the Bemidji Police Department and the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force. Sheriff Jason Riggs provided the case details to law enforcement partners.
For Bemidji residents the case underscores two immediate concerns. The scale of the cash theft points to the importance of secure storage for valuables and business assets, while the presence of methamphetamine in multiple locations highlights ongoing public safety challenges linked to drug activity. The coordinated response by county, city, and task force personnel shows local agencies are pooling resources to address property crime and drug enforcement.
Residents are advised to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement, to review security measures for homes and businesses, and to remain aware that investigations of this type often involve additional arrests or evidence as they unfold.
