Albert Lea predatory offender arrested in St. Paul; Morarend facing felony in connection to car chase

Published 7:41 am Monday, July 17, 2017

A high-risk Albert Lea predatory offender who is facing a felony charge in connection to a vehicle chase earlier this year in Albert Lea was apprehended Thursday in St. Paul.

Jabar Pedro Morarend, 45

Jabar Pedro Morarend, 45, was taken into custody at 5 p.m. Thursday by St. Paul police on Sherburne Avenue, said Touray Stampley, a community service officer with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.

A warrant was issued June 30 for Morarend, who was charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle in April in connection with a short vehicle chase that ended near Halverson Elementary School. Methamphetamine and items related to a burglary were reportedly found. He reportedly failed to appear for his initial appearance on the charge in Freeborn County District Court.

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Morarend is classified as a Level 3 offender — an offender with the highest risk of re-offending. He was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1998 in Rice County after he raped an adult woman who was a neighbor. He did so using force, threats and a knife to gain compliance and entered her home without permission.

Morarend was set to be taken back to Freeborn County on Friday.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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