13-year-old faces felony charge

A 13-year-old Albert Lea boy who allegedly broke into Eastside Liquor early Monday morning and walked out with two bottles of alcohol was charged Monday in juvenile court with felony burglary.

An officer recognized the boy, whose name has not been released, after watching the store’s video surveillance tape, according to the Freeborn County Attorney’s office. The teenager reportedly took a 40-ounce bottle of Budweiser beer and a 375-milliliter bottle of Cherry UV vodka. The value of both items is $9.43.

Officers arrested the teen at a local motel. His eyes were allegedly bloodshot and watering, and he had poor balance and the odor of alcohol on his breath, according to court documents.

When police took him to the Law Enforcement Center, the teen reportedly admitted to robbing the store and said, “I just want to get this over. I’m guilty,” documents stated. He told police he used a piece of a metal pipe to break the door and that after he left he dropped the bottle of liquor, breaking it.

Police found a bottle of beer in the motel room. The teenager was reportedly taken to a juvenile detention facility in Red Wing.

Police stated earlier this week that officers will be investigating the teen for other similar crimes that have been reported in the last week and a half. For now, he faces one count of third-degree burglary.

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