Thief River Falls police officer charged with theft
A Thief River Falls police officer was charged Thursday in two counties with possessing and receiving stolen property including lawnmowers, all-terrain vehicles and a boat.
Paul James Kezar, 37, was being held in the Marshall County jail on charges filed in Marshall and Pennington counties.
According to court documents, Kezar received a dozen high-priced items that had all been reported stolen. They included several riding lawnmowers valued at more than $7,000 each, a $16,000 boat, and snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles worth up to $8,500.
The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Kezar was arrested Wednesday.
The BCA is leading the investigation with help from the Pennington County Sheriff's Department and the Thief River Falls Police Department.
The BCA said Kezar was a probationary officer with the Thief River Falls department, meaning he had worked there less than one year. Kezar previously worked as a sheriff's deputy in St. Croix County, Wis., and as a police officer in Stillwater.
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